

HISTOEY 

OF 

NORTHAMPTON, 

LEHIGH, MONROE, CARBON, 

AND 

SCHUYLKILL COUNTIES: 

CONTAINING 

A BRIEF HISTORY OF THE FIRST SETTLERS, 
TOPOGRAPHY OF TOWNSHIPS, 

NOTICES OF LEADING EVENTS, INCIDENTS, AND INTERESTING 
FACTS IN THE EARLY HISTORY OF THESE COUNTIES: 

WITH 

AN APPENDIX, 

CONTAINING MATTERS OF DEEP INTEREST. 

EMBELLISHED BY SEVERAL ENGRAVINGS. 



Oompiled from various authentic sources 

BY I. DANIEL -lUi-P;; .. ' '. 1 ~. . 

Author of " Der Maertyrer Geschichte," " He l*aed. Ekklesia," &c. &c, kc. ice. 



Published and sold \ ' ' 

BY G. HILLS, PROPRIETOR, J.AWCASTER, PA. 



HARRISBURG : 

HICKOK AND CANTINE, PRINTERS AND BINDERS. 

1845. 









1? 



Entered in the Office of the Clerk of the District Court of the 
Eastern District of Pennsylvania, in 1844, 

BY G. HILLS, PROPRIETOR, 

in conformity with An Act of Congress, entitled " An Act to amend 
the several Acts respecting Copy Rights." 



PREFACE. 



When local events and incidents are merged in the 
general history of a country or nation, it would be a 
fruitless attempt to give causes and notice effects, and 
et the same time preserve a consecutive chronological 
arrangement of facts. This may be done in regular 
history ; but it cannot in a local history, without 
much amplification, and the introduction of that which 
is apparently irrelevant. All that the writer has 
aimed at in this compilation, was to embody in a 
convenient form, the prominent events, leading inci- 
dents in the early and continued history of these 
counties, without regard to strict chronological order ; 
topographical description of townships, towns vil- 
lages, &c. How far this has been accomplished, is 
left to the candid reader to say. Nothing has been 
left undone on the part of the compiler, to collect ma- 
terials of a historical and topographical character and 
arrange them according to the best of his judgment. 

Touching the matter itself contained in this book, 
the writer hesitates not to confess, that his claims to 



IV PREFACE. 

originality are none of the strongest. Circumstanced 
as he was, when preparing this work for press, he 
had to avail himself of the labors of others. 
■ Passing over some defects, the reader will readily 
grant that the writer may, at least, lay claim to the 
merit of being a faithful and laborious compiler. 

He would here frankly make an avowal of the 
sources to which he chiefly repaired for compilation, 
viz : TheMSS. Provincial Records, Reports, Letters, 
in the office of the Secretary of Slate, at Harrisburg, 
the votes of Assembly, Loskiel's History of the Mo- 
ravians, Heckewelder's Narrative, Crantz's Brueder 
Geschichte, Spangenberg's Leben, Hazard's Register, 
Gordon's Gazette of Pennsylvania, Day's Historical 
Collection, Dunlap's and Claypool's Daily Adverti- 
ser, Hall and Seller's Pennsylvania Gazette — besides 
many others noticed in the body of the work. 

Numerous are the works drav/n from, and the au- 
thorities referred to. And now to those who may feel 
disposed to suggest that the compiler has made a 
book from the labors of others — ^" for we find all this 
in a number of volumes" — he would beg leave to re- 
mark, if they shall be pleased to think that they 
have found the substance of many books in this com- 
pilation, he shall consider it the highest enconiura 
that can be passed upon it. 

Those who may think it an easy task to compile 
a work like this, are referred to experience of this 



PREFACE, 



kind, as expressed by another. Major William 
Stahle, who has written a pamphlet of nearly two 
hundred pages, entitled " The Description of the 
Borough of Reading, ^^ says : " That the execution 
of his design was not free from difficulty, may be in- 
ferred from the fact, that it was undertaken many 
months ago, and has been prosecuted with unremit- 
ted diligence to the present moment. It was the gath- 
ering of the material that gave me the most trouble." 
Well might the writer be allowed to complain. To 
collect materials, and prepare a book of between five 
and six hundred pages for press, gave him much 
trouble. In view of these difficulties attending his 
compilation, he would claim the indulgence of the 
reader — and with these facts before him, the good 
natured critic, it is believed, will have some compas- 
sion upon the compiler, and remember that, " Jn 
m,anchem sind Unvolkommenheilen.'^ 
Lancaster, January, 1845. 



OMISSION. 



The following should have been noticed in speak- 
ing of Easton. There was also an Indian treaty held 
at Easton, January 30, 31 — February 4, 6, 1777, be- 
tween Commissioners in behalf of the United States, 
and a number of Indian Chiefs, in behalf of the Six 
Nations, and their confederates, held in the German 
church. 

Present, the Hon. George Walton, and George 
Taylor, Esq., Members of Congress ; Col. Lowryand 
Col. Cunningham, from the Assembly of the State of 
Pennsylvania ; Col. Bull and Col. Dean, Members of 
the Council of Safety of the State of Pennsylvania. 
Secretary of the Commission, Thomas Paine. 

The following were the Indian Chiefs : 

Kayugas — Taasquah, or King Charles. 

Senegas — Tawanah, or the big tree. 

MuNsiEs — Mytakaioha, walking on foot. 
Kaknah, standing by a tree. 

Nantikokes — Amatincka, raising any thing up. 

Kanois — Wilaknko, or king last night. 

Interpreter, Thomas Green, a Mohawk. 



CONTENTS. 



CHAPTER I. 

Introduction ; Swedes settle ; William Penn born ; 
Penn obtained a charter ; first settlers sail for America ; 
Penn follows ; accession of settlers from London, Holland, 
Germany, &c. ; Penn holds conferences with the Indians ; 
purchases their lands ; Penn returns to England ; Penn 
again in Pennsylvania ; returns again to England ; Penn's 
death ; number of Indians in Pennsylvania on Penn's arri- 
val ; Lenapi, Delaware and other Indians ; Germans, 
Welsh and Irish arrive. — p. 1 — 5. 

CHAPTER II. 

The Germans ; German Quakers seUle at German- 
town ; Frankfort land company ; German immigrants from 
1709 to 1720 ; Dickinson's remarks on the Germans ; Ger- 
mans from the Palatinate, and from 1720 to 1725 ; from 
1725 to 1740 ; their character according to Dickinson ; from 
1740 to 1752 ; Neulaendar ; Redemptioners ; from 1753 to 
1756; Germans used as Make- Weights ; Wharton's MSS 
eoncerning the Germans ; Germans numerous in North- 
ampton, Schuylkill, &c. — p. 6 — 12. 

CHAPTER HI. 

The Welsh ; their character; influential at an early day; 
Thomas Lloyd ; the Welsh had early purchased of Wil- 
liam Penn ; their number increased ; their customs ; Welsh 
pioneers; many Webh arrive in 1698 ; few Welsh settled 



X CeNTKNTS. 

in Northampton ; many Welsh in the coal regions ; Lord's 
prayer in Welsh. — p. 13 — 15. 

CHAPTER IV. 

The Irish ; time of their immigration to Pennsylvania ; 
principally from the north of Ireland ; Parliament attempts 
to prevent their emigration from Ireland ; tax imposed on 
them by the Assembly ; character of the Scotch Irish ; Irish 
settle in Northampton county ; Craig's settlement; names 
of first settlers ; lately many immigrated into Schuylkill 
county ; Lord's prayer in Irish. — p. 16—18. 

CHAPTER V. 

Erection of Northampton County ; Penn organized 
several counties in 1683; Northampton erected; extracts 
from records of court ; petitions for tavern license ; names 
of the first Grand Inquest; Supervisors; Constables; town- 
ships organized prior to 1763 ; mills before the county 
erected. — p. 17 — 23. 

CHAPTER VI. 

Present Limits, &c. of the County ; limits iic. ; 
number of acres; physical appearance of the county ; Little 
Gap ; Wind Gap ; Delaware Water Gap ; Delaware river, 
p. 34 — 30. 

CHAPTER Vn. 

Easton, Early History of, &c. ; Easton ; councils held 
at Easton ; one in July, 1756 ; another in July, 1757 ; 
anotlier in 1758; another in October, 1759; another in 
1761 ; Easton incorporated; taverns, stores, manufactories; 
churches ; newspapers ; high water and loss of property ; 
freshet of 1840.— p. 30—58. 

CHAPTER Vni. 

Topography of Townships ; Upper Mount Bethel ; 
Centreville ; Williamsburg ; Dills Ferry ; Lower Mount 



CONTENTS. XI 

Bethel ; Richmond ; Flatfield ; Allen township ; Kreiders- 
ville ; Hauertown; Weaversbiirg ; Nelighsville ; Plain- 
field township; Bellville ; Wardsburg; Jacksonville; 
Lehigh township ; Berlinville ; Cherryville ; Moore town- 
ship ; Kernsville ; Klecknersville ; Saucon township; Hel- 
lerstown ; Hanover township ; Williams township ; South 
Easton ; the Lehigh works; South Easton furnace; 
Glendon iron works ; Williamsport ; Bushkille township ; 
Jacobsburg ; Forks township ; Stockersville ; Lower Naza- 
reth township; Hecktown ; Newburg; Upper Nazareth 
township; Nazareth; The Rose; Bethlehem township; 
Freemansburg ; Betlilehem ; Frieden-Huetten ; number of 
interesting letters, Sic. — p. 58 — 109. 

CHAPTER LX. 

Lehigh County; Lehigh county erected in 1812; Le- 
high, or Leckhaw ; Lehigh Water Gap ; number of town- 
ships ; extract from court records; first Grand Jurors; 
Fries' opposition to tax collectors ; Fries' trial. — p. 109 — 
125. 

CHAPTER X. 

Topography of Townships; Hanover township ; Biery's 
Port ; Rittersville ; Heidelberg township ; Segersville ; 
Germansville ; North Whitehall township ; Siegersville ; 
Snydersville ; Kernsville; Slate Dam; South Whitehall 
township ; Linn township ; Linnville ; New Tripoli ; Jack- 
sonville; Low Hill township; Clausville ; Upper Macunjy ; 
Foglesville; Trexlerstown ; Lower Macunjy ; Millerstown ; 
Breinigsville ; Upper Milford ; Scheimersville; Dillingers; 
Weisenburg township; Mount Pleasant; Upper Saucon 
township; Freystown; Salisbury township; Emaus ; 
Northampton township ; Allentown ; freshets at Allentown ; 
Lehigh Port. — p. 125 — 144. 

CHAPTER XL 

Monroe County Organized, &c. ; Monroe county 
erected ; Stroud township , Stroudsburg ; Fort Hamilton ; 
disastrous flood ; Smithfield, or Lower Smitfield township ; 



XU CONTENTS. 

Dutotsburg; Craig's Meadow; Branchville ; Upper, or 
Middle Srnitlifield township ; Indian massacres; Coolbaiigh 
township ; Nagleville ; Spruce Grove; Saxville ; Toby- 
hanna township ; Great Swamp; Pokono township ; Bar- 
tonsville; 'i'annersville ; Chestniiihill township; Ross 
township; Wind Gap; Kunklesvilie ; Hamilton town- 
ship; Snydersville ; Keliersvill; Fennersville ; Saylorsville. 
p. 115—180. 

CHAPTER XII. 



Carbon County Erected, &c. ; Act for erection of 
county ; extracts from records of court; first Giand Jurors ; 
Attorneys at the first court; physical appearance of the 
county ; boundaries ; principal streams ; Lehigh river, its 
scenery, &c. ; number of townships. — p. 181 — 186. 

CHAPTER Xni. 

Topography of Townships ; Mauch Chunk township ; 
Mauch Chunk; Mauch Chunk Hotel; Public buildings; 
Mauch Chunk mountain ; discovery of coal ; Lehigh coal 
and navigation company; railroads; Lausanne; Nesqui- 
honing; Lausanne township; Lawrytown ; Lockport ; 
(Jlifton ; Peiiii Haven ; Beaver Meadow ; Hazelton ; Banks 
township; Penn Forest township; Upper Towamensing 
township; Parrysville ; Weissport; Fort Allen, or New 
(inaden Iluelteu ; Tippey's flood, or flood of '86 ; num- 
ber of interesting letters relating to Fort Allen ; Lower 
Towamensing township ; the Gap ; East Penn township; 
Mahoning township; Burlington; Lehighton ; South Le- 
Uightou ;. Gilbert and family abducted. — p. 186 — 238. 

CHAPTER L 

Schuylkill County Erected ; Tulpehocken lands ; 
petition to erect Berks ; Readingtown; Act of March lllh, 
1752; Schuylkill county erected out of Berks and North- 
ampton, Marcli 1st, 1811 ; extracts of court records; At- 
torneys admitted at the lirst court ; townships ; constables j 
Grand Jurors. — p. 241 — 'a48» 



CONTENTS. XUl 

CHAPTER II. 

Topography, &c., of Townships; East Brunswick 
township; Port Clinton; Manheim township; Sehnylkill 
Haven ; Branch township; Minersville ; I/lewellyn; liOwer 
Mahanlango township ; Barry township; Pine Grove town- 
ship ; Pine Grove ; Swataraville ; Hush lownsliip ; Home ; 
Patterson; Tiiscarora ; Taniaqua; Schnylkill township; 
Louisburg ; Schuylkill valley ; Union township ; Upper 
Mahantango township; Zimmermanstown ; Wayne town- 
ship ; Frietlensburg; West Brunswick township ; Orwigs- 
burg; McKeansburg ; Landisville ; West Penn township ; 
Norwegian township; Pottsville and vicinity; John Pott's 
father, Wilhelm Pott; names of first settlers about Pott's; 
early history of Pottsville ; Pottsville in 1842 ; in 1'829 ; in 
1830; in 1831; present state of Pottsville, public buildings, 
&c. ; freshets at Pottsville in 1831 and 1841 ; Port Carbon ; 
Irishtown, Rhoadstown, liawtontovvn, Acretown and 
Young's Addition; Coaquennac ; St. Clair ; Coal Castle ; 
Mackeysville.— p. 248—297. 

CHAPTER III. 

History of Coal, &c. ; Early history of coal ; fust 
engaged in the coal enterprize ; William Morris; Colonel 
Shoemaker ; small openings made in 1813; improvements 
in mode of mining, 1823; Mill creek railroad commenced 
in 1829 ; Schuylkill railroad ; Norwegian and Mount Car- 
bon railroad ; Mine Hill and Schuylkill Haven railroad.; 
Little Schuylkill railroad ; total of railroads prior to 1833 ; 
amount of anthracite coal ; amount sent from the several dis- 
tricts, from 1820 to 1844; number of steam engines em- 
ployed ; Battin's coal breaker ; improvements in machinery; 
freight on coals, &c. — p. 297 — 330. 

CHAPTER IV. 

Coal Region and Mining Operation in Schuylkill 
IN 1844 ; Origin and formation of coal ; Schuylkill coal 
tield; coal mining, Schuylkill valley district ; the Tusca- 
rora collieries ; Belmont collieries ; Kinsley's collieries ; 
Freeman's collieries ; Uren's collieries ; Thompson &; 



XIV CONTEKTTS. 

Pennman's collieries ; Patrick's collieries ; the Mine Hill 
collieries ; Lick run collieries ; Kinsley's colliery ; Wil- 
liams' and Davis' colliery ; Silver creek collieries ; the 
Union collieries ; Belmont collieries ; David Richard's col- 
liery ; Fitzimmon's colliery ; Hendersons colliery; James 
Berry's colliery ; the Belfast colliery ; Heebner's colliery ; 
the Junction collieries ; Bolton & Go's collieries ; Port 
Carbon district; the Salem collieries ; Mill creek district; 
Ronaldson's colliery ; Rainbow collieries ; Sillyman <fc 
Evan's colliery ; Pinkerton's colliery ; Mammoth colliery, 
p. 330—380. 

CHAPTER V. 

Education ; Common schools; Prediger und Schulmeis- 
ter in one person ; scheme of instructing Germans, &c., in 
1751 ; first members of this society ; school established un- 
der this scheme at New Hanover, New Providence, Reading, 
Lancaster, York, Easton, &c. ; Easton free school in 1755 ; 
contributors towards the free school ; Layfayette College ; 
course of instruction ; lectures ; terms of admission to the 
college classes ; examination ; expenses ; the model school ; 
seminaries of Nazareth and Bethlehem ; common school 
system.— p. 380—403. 

APPENDLX. 

A Journal of James Young, Commmissary Gen'l,from 
June 19, to June 26, 1856 ; A Journal of Capt. John Van 
Etten, at Fort Hyndshaw and Fort Hamilton, &;c., from 
December 1, 1756, to July 21, 1757 ; Col. James Burd's 
Journal, who visited a number of Forts in 1758. — p. 405 — 
459. 

ADDENDA. 

Fragment of a Journal, detaling the " doings" in and 
about Fort North Kill ; Teedyuscung ; Religious notice, 
p. 461. 



HISTORY or COUNTIES. 



INTRODUCTION. 



CHAPTER I. 

Scarcely two centuries have passed by since the 
white man held any possessions among the red men of 
the woods, within the limits of Pennsylvania. A little 
more than two hundred years ago, the Indians held a 
sovereign right to the soil of Pennsylvania ; and there 
was none beside his own forest brethren, in all the 
wilds, glens, vales and mountains, to molest or disturb 
him in his peaceful abodes of the extended ^^Sylvania.'^ 
In the progress of time, however, the Swedes came and 
settled within the limits of Pennsylvania, about the year 
1638 — they purchased lands at a cheap rate, from the 
Indians in and about Tinicum Isle, which afterwards 
became the seat of government of the New Sweden colo- 
ny; for as early as 1642, John Printz erected there a 
spacious mansion, well kiiown in history as Printz' Hall. 
Here the Swedes held possessions till 1655, when the 
Dutch subdued them, and brought them under the juris- 
diction of Peter Stuyvesant, Governor of New Nether- 
lands, who, however, in his turn, was soon afterwards 
conquered by Charles II. of England; and New Nether- 
lands, named New York. Thus, the settlements made 
by the Swedes, and held a short time by the Dutch, fell 
into the possession of the English in 1664. 

In Europe, a spirit of religious persecution caused ma- 
ny an aching heart to yearn after a place of peace and 
repose ; where, in obedience to the dictates of conscience, 
the Almighty might be worshipped without an impious 
interposition by man between the homage of man and 
A 



2 INTRODUCTIOPr. 

his Creator. At this time the founder of Pennsylvania^ 
on account of his religious sentiments, suffered much in 
this way ; and in order to escape persecution, and to es- 
tabhsh a colony for the oppressed of all denominations, 
turned his eye upon the western world. 

William Penn, was born in London, October 16, 1644, 
grandson of Giles Penn, and son of Sir William Penn^ 
Admiral of the English Navy, availed himself of the 
claims he had upon the British Government, on account 
of the eminent services his father had rendered that coun- 
try, petitioned King Charles JL, that, in lieu of a large 
sum of money, sixteen thousand pounds, due the Admi- 
ral, at his death, to grant him letters patent for a tract of 
land in America, " lying north of Maryland ; on the east 
bounded by Delaware river ; on the west, limited as Ma- 
ryland ; and northward, to extend as far as plantable." 

Penn obtained a charter from Charles II., dated at 
Westminster, March 4, 1681. Having now been sole 
proprietary of Pennsylvania, he made sales of lands tO' 
adventurers, called first settlers, who embarked, some at 
London, others at Bristol, in 16S1, for America, and ar- 
arrived at Upland, now Chester, on December 11. Penn, 
with many of his friends, chiefly from Sussex, England^ 
sailed for America, and landed at New Castle on the 27th 
October, 1682, where he was received with demonstra- 
tions of joy. Penn went to Upland, where he convened 
an assembly, Dec, 4th ; and in a brief session of three days, 
enacted several important laws, one of which was an act 
to naturalize the Dutch, Swedes, and other foreigners. 

The same year that Penn ari'ived, there was quite an 
accession. The two next succeeding years, settlers from 
London, Bristol, Wales, Holland, Germany, &c., arrived., 
to the number of 50 sail ; among these were German Qua- 
kers from Cresheim, near Worms, in the Palatinate. The 
banks of the Delaware were one bustling scene — some 
lodged in the woods in hollow triees, some in caves, which 
were easily dug on the high banks of the Wissahickon and 
the Delaware, and others in haste erected huts. * 

• Proud II, 220. 



INTRODUCTION. 3 

To do justice, secure the smiles of the Indians, and to 
meet the approbation of Heaven, Penn held treaties of 
peace and friendship with the tawny sons of the forest, 
and contracted witli them for their lands — this done, he 
proceeded to lay out a city, by the assistance of his sur- 
veyor. Gen. Thomas Holme. Eighty houses were elect- 
ed, the first year, in Philadelphia. Next was a survey 
of lands for the first settlers. This having been complet- 
ed, the proprietary, in 1682, divided the country into six 
counties — three in the territory of Delaware ; namely. 
New Castle, Kent, and Sussex ; three in the province of 
Pennsylvania; namely, Philadelphia, Bucks, and Chester; 
the first and last, embracing all, and much more, of the 
land within the present limits of Berks and Lebanon. 

Penn remained but a short time on his first arrival ; he 
sailed for Europe, August 16, 1684, leaving the province 
under the government of five commissioners, chosen from 
the Provincial council ; however, previous to his depar- 
ture, he made a league of amity with nineteen Indian 
nations, between them and all the English America. * 
In 1699, Penn again visited the colony, and remained 
only till November 1st, 1701, when he returned to Eng- 
land, where he died, July 30th, 1718, at Rushcomb, near 
Twyford, in Buckinghamshire, aged about seventy-four 
years. In 1712, he had been seized with some fits of the 
apoplectic kind, which for the last six years of his life, 
had rendered him incapable of doing public business. 

Wheii the Swedes first arrived, and settled on the 
shores of the Delaware, and when the Enghsh landed in 
1681, they found a numerous race of Indians, who met 
the white strangers in a friendly manner ; and when the 
following year, William Penn, with his train of pacific 
friends arrived, he was also hailed with affection, and 
treated as their Miquon or elder brother. 

At the time of Penn's arrival, there were not less than 
ten native tribes in Pennsylvania, comprising about six 
thousand in number ; these, however, formed only a por- 
tion of the Indians inhabiting the country between Vir- 

* Oldmixon. 



4 INTRODUCTION. 

ginia and Canada ; those who were principally seated on 
the Delaware, were the Lenni Lenape, and were consi" 
dered the grandfathers of near forty tribes. The others 
were the Mengwe, or usually called Iroquois, who in- 
habited the more northern portion of the United States. 
The Iroquois were also divided into numerous tribes. 

According to popular tradition, the numerous tribes of 
the Delaware and Iroquois, trace their origin to two 
sources. The traditions, as handed down by their an- 
cestors, run thus : The Lenni Lenape, or, for brevity's 
sake, ^^ Lenape,''^ meaning The original people,^vere an 
unmixed and unchanged race, residing, many centuries 
ago, towards the setting of the sun — somewhere in the 
tvest of this continent. For some reasons, not explained, 
they determined to migrate towards the rising of the sun. 
After their journeying they arrived at the Fish Rivei\ 
the Natnasi Sipii, (Mississippi ;) here they fell in with a 
nation, also in quest of a new home eastward — these 
were the Mengwe, or Iroquois, as they have since been 
called. They here united their forces, anticipating op- 
position from a people of gigantic form, and a populous 
race, the Alligewi, on the east of the Mississippi. Not 
many days after their union, before they advanced, ma- 
ny and mighty battles were fought — the Alligewi to es- 
cape total extermination, abandoned the country to the 
-people o{ " The Neiv Ufiion," fled far southward, and 
never returned. The victors now divided the spoil ; 
the country was shared out among themselves — the Iro- 
quois made choice of the north — lands in the vicinity of 
the great lakes, and on their tributary streams ; the Le- 
nape took possession of more southern parts, where they 
lived in peace for many years, till the Europeans came. 

The Lenape ; or, as they were called by the Europe- 
ans, Delawares, were divided into three tribes — the Una- 
'mis, or Turtle ; the JVimalachtikos, or Turkey ; and the 
Minsi, or Wolf. '' The Minsi, or Monceys, the most 
warlike of the three tribes, inhabited a country that ex- 
tends from the Minisink on the Delaware, to the Hudson 
on the east, to the Susquohannah on the southwest, to 
the head waters of the Delaware and Susquehanna ri- 



INTRODUCTION. 



vers on the north, and to that range of hills now loiown 
in New Jersey by the name of Muskenecmn, and by 
those of Lehigh and Coghnewago, in Pennsylvania."' 
The Monceys embraced a number of subordinate tribes, 
who were known by names derived from their residence, 
or some accidental circumstance. Such were the Sus- 
quenannas, Neshamines, Conistogas, and other tribes in 
the province of Pennsylvania. 

Shortly after the arrival of William Penn, a number of 
Germans, Welsh, Irish and others, immigrated to the 
provinces ; many of whose descendants are to be found 
within the counties of which it is intended to give a his- 
tory. Of these, something will be said, before entering 
upon the historical part of this work. 



CHAPTER II. 

THE GERMANS. 

The Germans, who first emigrated into the Province 
of Pennsylvania, came chiefly for conscience' sake ; those 
who arrived at a later period, came to improve their tem- 
poral, as well as their spiritual condition. Not many 
names of the first German emigrants, except a few of the 
German Quakers who came in with Penn, are preserved. 

Among the very first, whose name has been handed 
down, is that of Henry Fry, who arrived two years be- 
fore William Penn. His widow was still living in 1754.* 
One Platenbach came a few years later, t In 16S2, a 
considerable number came from Cresheim — these were 
principally Quakers. They settled at Germantown. 
About the year 16S4 or ^85, a company was formed in 
Germany, called the " Frankfort Land Company," con- 
sisting at first of ten gentlemen, living in Frankfort, on 
the Mayne ; their articles were executed in that city on 
the 24th of November, 1686. They seem to have been 
men of note by the use of each of his separate seal. Their 
names were G. Van Mastrick, Thomas V. Wylick, John 
Le Bran, F. Dan. Pastorious, John J, Schuetz, Daniel 
Behagel, Jacobus Van Dewaller, John W. Peterson, Jo- 
hamies Kimber, Balthasur Jo west. They bought 25,000 
acres of land from Penn. The Germantown patent for 
5350, and the Manatauney patent for 22,377 acres. T. 
D. Pastorious was appointed the attorney for the compa- 
ny, and after his resignation, Dan. Faulkner was, in 170S, 
made attorney. 

In 1708, 1709, 1710, to 1720, thousands of them emi- 
grated who were known as Palatines, because they had 
come from the Palatinate, whither some had been forced 
to flee from their homes in other parts of Europe. JMany 

• Hal. Nach. f Ibid. 



es 



HISTORY OF NORTHAMPTON COUNTY. 7 

of these had gone first to England on the invitation of 
Queen Anne, at whose bounty, not a few were trans- 
ported to America. Hundreds of them were gratuitously 
furnished with religious and useful books, before their 
departure, by the Read Anton Wilhelm Boehm, Court- 
chaplain, of St. James. The principal book was Arndt's 
Wahres Christenthum. Among these German emigrants 
were Mennonites, Dunkards, German Reformed, and 
Lutherans. Their number was so great, as to draw the 
remarks from lames Logan, secretary of the province of 
Pennsylvania, in 1717 — "We have," said he, "of late, 
a great number of Palatines poured in upon us without 
any recommendation or notice, which gives the country 
some uneasiness, for foreigners do not so well among us 
as our own English people." 

In 1719, Jonathan Dickinson remarks, "We are daily 
expecting ships from London which bring over Palatines, 
in number about six or seven thousand. We had a par- 
cel who came out about five years ago, who purchased 
land about sixty miles west of Philadelphia, and prove 
quiet and industrious. Some few came from Ireland 
lately, and more are expected thence.* This is besides 
*)ur common supply from Wales and England. Our 
friends do increase mightily, and a great people there is 
in the wilderness, which is fast becoming a fruitful field." 

From 1720 to 1725, the number of Germans from the 
Palatinate, Wurtenberg, Darmstadt, &c., increased ; these 
settled prineipally in what is Montgomery, Berks, and 
Lancaster county. Those who came in between 1720 
and 1725, were accompanied by ministers of the gospel, 
and some schoolmasters — among the German Retbrmed 
was Rev. Bochm, who had come in prior to 1720, and 
Rev. George Michael Weiss, who came subsequent to 
1720. Among the Lutheran ministers were the Rev. 
Falckner, Hinckel, and Stoever. Their schoolmasters, 
for the want of a supply of ministers, read sermons and 
prayers. Among the Dunkards were the Rev. Peter 
Becker, and Alexander Mack, as ministers. 

• These were the Mennonites in Pequea valley. 



8 HISTORY OP NORTHAMPTON COUNTT. 

In the period between 1720 and 1725, a number of 
Germans emigrated from the State of New York, and 
settled at Tulpehoclfen. Of these, a detailed account will 
be given when speaking of Tulpehocken township. 

From 1725 to 1740, there was another great influx of 
Germans of various religious opinions, German Reform- 
ed, Lutherans, Catholics, Moravians, and Swenckfelders, 
arrived ; of the latter, a particular account will be given 
when speaking of Hereford township. It appears, from 
a letter written by James Logan, in 1725, that many of 
the Germans were not over scrupulous in their compli- 
ance with the regulations of the Land Office. He says, 
and perhaps with mnch truth, "they come in, in 
crowds, and as bold, indigent strangers from Germany, 
where many of them have been soldiers. All these go 
in the best vacant tracts, and seize upon them as places 
of common spoil. He says they rarely approach him on 
their arrival to propose to purchase ; and when they are 
sought out and challenged for their right of occupancy, 
they allege it was published in Europe that we wanted 
and solicited for colonists, and had a superabundance of 
land, and, therefore, they had come without the means 
to pay. The Germans in after time embroiled with the 
Indians at Tulpehocken, threatenhig a serious aflair. In 
general, those who sat down without titles acquired 
enough in a few years, to buy them, and so generally 
tiiey were left unmolested. 

The character then known to him, he states, are many 
of them a surly people — divers of them Papists — the men 
well armed, and, as a body, a warlike, morose race. In 
1727, he states that 6000 Germans more are expected, 
(and also many from Ireland,) and these emigrations, he 
hopes, may be prevented in futme by act of parliament, 
else he fears those colonies will, in time, be lost to the 
crown ! — a future act. 

" In 1729, he speaks of being glad to observe the influx 
of strangers, as likely to attract the interference of parlia- 
ment ; for truly, says he, they have danger to apprehend 
for a country where not even a militia exists for govern- 
ment support. To arrest, in some degree, their arrival, 



HISTORY OP NORTHAMPTON COUNTY. 9 

the Assembly passed a tax of twenty shillings a head on 
new arrived servants. 

" In another letter, he says, the numbers from Germa- 
ny at this rate will soon produce a German colony here, 
and perhaps such an one as Britain received from Saxo- 
ny in the 5th century. He even states, as among the appre- 
hended schemes of Sir William Keith, the former gover- 
nor, that he, Harland and Gould, have had sinister pro- 
jects of forming an independent province in the west, to 
the westward of the Germans, towards the Ohio — proba- 
bly west of the mountains, and to be supplied by his 
friends among the Palatines and Irish, among whom was 
his chief popularity at that time. 

" From 1740 to 1753, emigrants came in by hundreds. 
During this period a number of JNIoravians and Swenck- 
felders arrived, and settled, principally, within the pre- 
sent limits of Northampton county and Lehigh. Of these 
a detailed account will be given when speaking of those 
counties. 

"In the autumn of 1749, not less than twenty vessels, 
with German passengers to the number of twelve thou- 
sand, arrived at Philadelphia. In 1750, 1751, and 1752, 
the number was not much less. Among those who emi- 
grated in the years from 1740 to 1752, there were many 
who bitterly lamented that they had forsaken their homes 
for the Province of Pennsylvania. At that time there 
was a class of Germans who had resided some time in 
Pennsylvania, well known by the name of Neulaender, 
who made it their business to go to Germany and pre- 
vail on their countrymen to sacrifice their property, and 
embark for America. In many instances, persons in easy 
circumstances at home, with a view to better their con- 
dition, came to America, but to their sorrow found that 
their condition was rendered none the better, but in nu- 
merous instances worse, if not wretched. Others again, 
who had not the means of paying their passage across 
the Atlantic, were, on their arrival at Philadelphia, ex- 
posed at public auction to serve for a series of years to 
pay their passage. Those, thus disposed of, were term- 
ed. Redemjjtionej's. The Palatine Redemptioners were 



10 HISTORY OF NORTHAMPTON COUNTY. 

usually sold at ten pounds, for from three to five years 
servitude. Many of them, after serving out their tinre 
faithfully, became, by frugality and industry, some of the 
most wealthy and influential citizens of the State. The 
years that were peculiarly remarkable for the importation 
of Palatine Redemptioners were, 1728, '29, '37, '41, '50, 
and '51. Of this class many had become men of wealth 
and influence in their day, and whose descendants are' 
among the first in society, as to intelligence, wealth and 
respectability. 

"In later times, say about the year 1753 to- 1756, the 
Germans having become numerous, and therefore power- 
ful as make-weights in the political balance, were much 
noticed in the publications of the day. They were at 
that period of time, in general, very hearty co-operators 
with the Quakers or Friends, then in considerable rule 
in the Assembly. A MSS. pamphlet in the Franklin 
Library at Philadelphia, supposed to have been written 
by Samuel Wharton, in 1755, shows his ideas of the 
passing events, saying, that the party on the side of the 
Friends derived much of their influence over tlie Ger- 
mans, through the aid of C. Sauers, who published a Ger- 
man paper in Germantown, from the time of 1729, and 
which, being much read by that people, influenced them 
to the side of the Friends, and hostile to the Governor 
and council. Through this means, says he, they have 
persuaded them that there was a design to enslave them ; 
to enforce their young men, by a contemplated militia 
law, to become soldiers, and to load them down with 
taxes, &c. From such causes, he adds, have they come 
down in shoals to vote, (of course, many from North- 
ampton,) and carrying all before them. To this I may, 
says Watson, 'add, that I have heard from the Norris 
family, that their ancestors in the Assembly were warm- 
ly patronized by the Germans in union with Friends. 
His alarms at this German influence at the polls, and his 
proposed remedies for the then dreaded evils, as they 
show the prevalent feelings of his associates in politics, 
may serve to amuse the present generation. He says 
the best eftects of these successes of the Germans will 



HISTORY OF NORTHAMPTON COUNTY. 11 

probably be felt through many generations ! Instead of 
a peaceable, industrious people, as before, they are now 
insolent, sullen, and turbulent ; in some counties threat- 
ening even the lives of all those who opposed their views, 
because they are taught to regard government and sla- 
very as one and the same thing. All who are not of 
their party, they call " Governor^ s men^^ and them- 
selves, they deem strong enough to make the country 
their own ! Indeed, they come in, in such force, say up- 
wards of 5000 in the last year, I see not but they may 
soon be able to give us law and language too, or else, 
by joining the French, eject all the English. That this 
may be the case, is too much to be feared, for almost to 
a man they refused to bear arms in the time of the late 
war, and they say, it is all one to them wliich king gets 
the country, as their estates will be equally secure. In- 
deed it is clear that the French have turned their hopes 
upon this great body of Germans. They hope to allure 
them by grants of Ohio lands. To this end, they send 
their Jesuitical emissaries among them to persuade them 
over to the Popish religion. In concert with this, the 
French for so many years have encroached on our pro- 
vince, and are now so near their scheme as to be within 
two days' maVch of some of our back settlements " — al- 
luding, of course, to the state of the western wilds, over- 
run by French and Indians, just before the arrival of 
Braddock's forces in Virginia, in 1755. 

"The writer (Wharton) imputes their wrong bias in 
general to their " stubborn, genius and ignorance," which 
he proposes to soften by education — a scheme still sug- 
gested as necessary to give the general mass of the in- 
land country Germans right views of public individual 
interests. To this end, he proposes that faithful Protes- 
tant ministers and schoolmasters should be supported 
among them. That their children should be taught the 
English tongue ; the government in the mean time should 
suspend their right of voting for members of Assembly ; 
and to incline them the sooner to become English in edu- 
cation and feeling, we should compel them to make all 
bonds and other legal writings in English, and no news- 



12 HISTORY OF NORTHAMPTON COUNTY. 

paper or almanac be circulated among them unless also 
accompanied by the English thereof." 

"Finally," the writer concludes, that "without somo 
such measure, I see nothing to prevent this province from 
falling into the hands of the French." 

Before and from the Revolution of '76, Germans emi- 
grated from Europe, and settled in those parts of Pemi- 
sylvania — nine-tenths of the early settlers in Northamp- 
ton and Schuylkill counties, which embraced, at their first 
organization, all those counties of which it is proposed 
to give a history. 

Since 1823, many Germans, principally miners, have 
settled in the coal regions of these counties. 



CHAPTER III. 

THE WELSH. 

In the very incipient stage of tlie first settlements made 
in the Province, many JVelshnien arrived in Pennsylva- 
nia. They were of sterling worth and of a most excel- 
lent character. " They were," says a certain writer, of 
the last century, " A hardy, active, hospitable and kind- 
hearted people — only a little hasty and quarrelsome." 

Among the most influential, at early day, was Thomas 
Lloyd, one of Penn's Deputy Governors. He died in 
1G94, aged fifty-four years. His father, says Proud, was 
a person of fortune, rank and esteem ; of an ancient fa- 
mily and estate, called Dolobran, in the North of Wales. 
Thomas Lloyd, the late Deputy Governor, was educated 
in the best schools ; from which he was removed to the 
University at Oxford ; where, it is said, he attained con- 
siderable proficiency ; and being endowed with good na- 
tural parts, and an amiable disposition of mind, he at- 
tracted the regard and esteem of persons of rank and 
figure, and was afterwards in the Way of considerable 
preferment in the world ; but being of a sober and reli- 
gious way of thinking, he joined with the Quakers, and 
renounced all worldly considerations, for that peace of 
mind, and real mortal felicity, which he believed to be 
the effect of true religion ; and become a highly esteemed 
preacher in that Society. In consequence of Avhich, hav- 
ing suffered much unmerited reproach, persecution and 
loss of property, in his native country, he afterwards re- 
moved to Pennsylvania, among the first or early settlers, 
and was one of William Penn's most intimate friends. 
He was mostly one of the principal persons in the 
government, from his first arrival, and of very great 
service in the public afl'airs. 

The Welsh had early purchased of William Penn, in 
England, forty thousand acres of land, and settled on the 



14 HISTORY OP NORTHAMPTON COUNTY. 

west side of the Schuylkill river. Only a few years 
elapsed when their number was considerably increased ; 
it was sufficiently augmented, that they had settled, be- 
fore the year 1692, not less than six townships in Ches- 
ter county. 

The custom of the Welsh, and that of the Swiss and 
Palatines, in settling parts of Pennsylvania, was similar. 
They would either purchase extensive tracts in England, 
to settle many of their friends in one body, as did the 
Menonites in Pequea valley, in 1709 and 1710 ; or like 
the Frankford company in 1686, or as they did, as just 
alluded to above ; or they did in some instances, send 
persons across the Atlantic, to take up land for them, and 
make some preparation for the reception of their friends 
and families. 

Among the Welsh, Avho thus acted as pioneers, was 
the well known Rowland Ellis, who sent over Thomas 
Owen and family to commence a settlement. No sooner 
had Owen made improvement, in which he spent a few 
years, when Ellis and one hundred other Welsh passen- 
gers left Wales, and embarked for America in 16S6. 

In 1698 many other Welsh families arrived, among 
whom were William Jones, Thomas Evans, Robert 
Evans, Owen Evans, Cadwallader Evans, Hugh Griflith, 
Edward Foulke, John Humphrey, Robert Jones, and 
others, who purchased ten thousand acres of land from 
Robert Turner, in Guinedd township, Chester county. 

There were only few Welsh settled at an early period 
in these counties ; however, within the last ten or fifteen 
years, many of them are to be found in the coal regions, 
where they number several thousand. They have, at 
present, among their ministers of the gospel, who preach 
to them in the Welsh tongue. The Welsh is pretty 
generally spoken by the adidts and the young. 

Here a specimen of the Lord's prayer is given in their 
language, as we find it in a London edition of the Welsh 
Bible, printed 1718 : 

Ein Tad yr hwn yn y nefoedd, Sancteiddier dy Enw. 
Deled dy deyrnas. Gwncler dy ewyllys, megis yn y nef, 
felly ar y ddaear hefyd. Dyro i ni heddyw ein bara 



HISTORY OF NORTHAMPTON COUNTY. 15 

beimyddiol. A madden i ni ein dyledion, fel y maddeiiwn 
ninau i'n dyledwyr. Ac nacarwain ni i brofedigaeth. 
eithr gwared ni rhagdi'wg. Can^^s eiddot ti y w 'r deyrnas, 
a'r nearth, a'r gogoniant, yn oes oesoedd. Amen. 



CHAPTER IV. 

THE IRISH. 

The Irish emigrants, says Watson, did not begin to 
come to Pennsylvania till about the year 1719. Those 
which did come were generally Irom the north of Ireland. 
Such as come out first, generally settled at, and near the 
disputed Maryland line. James Logan, writing of them 
to the Proprietaries, in 1724, says, they have generally 
taken up the southern lands, (meaning in Lancaster, to- 
wards the Maryland line,) and as they rarely approach- 
ed him to propose to purchase, he calls them bold and 
indigent strangers, saying as their excuse, when challeng- 
ed for titles, that we had solicited for colonists, and they 
had come accordingly. They were, however, understood 
to be a tolerated class, exempt from rents by an ordinance 
of 1720, in consideration of their being a frontier people, 
forming a kind of cordon of defence, if needful. They 
were soon called bad neighbors by the Indians, treating 
them disdainfully, and finally were the same race who 
committed the outrages called Paxtang Massacre. The 
general ideas are found in the Logan MSS. collection. 
Some of the data are as follows : 

"In 1735, James Logan states, that there are so many 
as one hundred thousand acres of land, possessed by per- 
sons, (including Germans,) who resolutely set down and 
improved it without any right to it, and he is much at a 
loss to determine how to dispossess them. 

"In 1729, he expresses himself glad to find that the 
Parliament is about to take measures to prevent the too 
free emigration to this country. In the meantime the 
Assembly had laid a restraining tax of twenty shillings 
a head for every servant arriving; but even this was 
evaded in the case of the arrival of a ship from Dublin, 
with one hundred catholics and convicts, by landing them 
at Burlington. It looks, says he, as if Ireland is to send 



HISTORY OP NORTHAMPTON COUNTY. 17 

all her inhabitants hither, for last week, not less than six 
ships arrived, and every day two or three arrive also. 
The common fear is, that if they continue to come, they 
will make themselves proprietors of the province. It is 
strange, says he, that they thus crowd where they are 
not wanted. But besides these, convicts are imported 
hither. The Indians themselves are alarmed at the 
swarms of strangers, and we are afraid of a breach be- 
tween them — for the Irish are very rough to them." 

" In 1730, he writes and complains of the Scotch Irish, 
in an audacious and disorderly manner, possessing them- 
selves of the whole of Conestoga manor, of fifteen thou- 
sand acres, being the best land in the country. In doing 
this by force, they alleged that it was against the laws 
of God and nature, that so much land should be idle, 
while so many Christians wanted it to labor on, and to 
raise tlieir bread, &c. The Paxtang boys were great 
sticklers for religion and scripture quotations against " the 
heathen." They were, however, dispossessed by the 
Sheritf and his posse, and their cabins, to the immber of 
thirty, were burnt. This necessary violence was, per- 
haps, remembered with indignation ; for only twenty-five 
years afterwards, the Paxtang massacre began by killing 
the Christian unoffending Indians found in Conestoga. 
The Irish were generally settled at Donegal." 

But few Scotch Irish settled within the limits of these 
counties at an early period, except some twenty or more 
families, in Northampton county, Allen township, a place 
known as Craig^s Settlc7ncnL 

" This settlement was made, says the Rev. Webster, of 
Mauch Chunck, from the north of Ireland, about the 
year 1728-30. That was the period at which the tide 
of Presbyterian emigration began to take place. " Wil- 
liam Craig, Esq., and Thomas Craig, appear to have been 
the principal settlers ; tlieir residence was not far from 
where tlie Presbyterian church in Allen township now 
stands. Others — men of property, influence and religious 
character — were John Ralston, Robert Walker. John 
Walker, John McNair, John Hays, James King, Gabriel 
King, his only son, eminent for his piety; Arthur Latti- 

B 



18 HISTORY OF NORTHAMPTON COUNTY. 

more. Hugh Wilson, William Young, George Gibson, 
Robert Gibson, Andrew Mann, James Riddle, John Boyd. 
Widow INIary Dobbin, Nigel Gray, and Thomas Arm- 
strong." 

There are still some of the descendants of these people, 
occupying the very farms first settled by them. Of late 
years, many Irish have emigrated into Schuylkill and 
Carbon comities, and are principally found in the coal 
regions. The greater proportion of them are Catholics, 
and have priests officiating in the Irish language, which 
is spoken by many of the laboring classes. 

To give the reader a specimen of the printed language 
of these sons of Erin, the Lord's prayer has been copied 
from Gr. Daniels' edition of an Irish Bible, printed 1G02. 

Air nathiv ataigh air nin. Nabz fat hanimti. Tigiuli 
da riathiatc. Deantur da hoilamhuoil Air nimh agis air 
thalambi. Air naran laidthuil tabhair dhiiin a niomb. 
Agis math duin dairf, hiacha ammnil Agis mathuni vid 
dar feuthmiuim. A,gis na trilaic astoch sin anau sen. 
Ac sar sine ole. Amen. 

English, German, Welsh, and Irish, were the original 
settlers of this regio-n, with an occasional Frenchman and 
Dutchman. Of the two latter, some families, Van Etlan, 
and Depui, and others, settled at the Minisinks, on the 
borders of Monroe and Pike comities. Here settlements, 
it is probable, had been made prior to 1682. For. an ac- 
count of the Miiiisink settlement, the reader is referred 
to tlie history of Monroe comity. 



CHAPTER V. 

ERECTION OF NORTHAMPTON COUNTY. 

William Penn, the tomider of Pennsylvania, shortly 
after his arrival in 1682, caused several counties, in the 
province of Pennsylvania, to be established, namely, 
Philadelphia, Delaware, Chester and Bucks. When 
this county was erected, and for eighty years afterwards, 
it comprised all, and even more tlian is within the pre- 
sent bounds of Northampton, Lehigh, Monroe, Pike and 
Carbon counties. It was sufficient, as to extent of terri- 
tory, to form a ^'Helvitlc Bepublic.''^ 

After repeated etlbrts to erect a new cou,nty out of 
the north part of Bucks, the inhabitants of that part of 
the county succeeded. None "was more active in effect- 
ing this than Mr. William Craig. It is set forth in the 
records of the County Commissioners, in 1753, "that 
William Craig sent a letter to the Commissioners, setting 
forth that he had been at considerable expense in pro- 
curing Northampton count}?- to be divided from Bucks 
county; and requested that they would be pleased to 
reimburse him the said expenses: whereupon they took 
the same into consideration, and agreed to allow him 
.€30, and ordered the Clerk to draw an order on the 
Treasurer for that siuu. An order was drawn." 

By virtue of the following act of Assembly, passed 
March 11th, 1752, the county of Northampton was 
erected : 

" Whereas, a great number of the inhabitants of the 
upper parts of the county of Bucks, by their petition, 
have hereby represented to the Governor and the Assem- 
bly of this province, the great liardships they lay under, 
by being so remote from the present seat of judicature, 
and the public ottices ; that the necessary means to be 
used for obtaining justice is attended with so much diffi= 
ciilty and expense, that many forego their right, rather 



20 HISTORY OF NORTHAMPTON COUNTY. 

than attempt the recovery of it under such circumstance?; ; 
while others, sensible of these difflcullies, commit great 
villainies with impunity. For remedying whereof, and 
for the relief of the inhabitants, Be it enacted by the 
Hon. James Hamilton^ Lieut. Governor, under the Hon. 
Thomas Penn and Richard Perm, true and solvent 
proprietaries of the province of Pennsylvania, and of the 
counties of New Castle, Kent and Sussex, upon Dela- 
ware, by and with the advice and consent of the repre- 
sentatives of the freemen of the said province, in general 
assembly met, and by the authority of the same, that all 
and singular the lands, lying within the province of 
Pennsylvania aforesaid, be erected into a county; and 
the same is hereby erected into a county, named, and 
hereinafter to be called, Northampton ; to be divided 
from the county of Bucks, by the upper or north-wester m 
hue of Durham, tract, to the npper corner thereof; thence 
by a straight line lo be run south-westwardly, to the line 
dividing the township of Uppey and Lower MiJJnrd ; 
thence along the said line to the line dividing Philadel- 
phia and Bucks counties ; and thence by a line to ihe 
extremities of the said province. 

The same act provided that Thomas Craig, Hugh Wil- 
son, John .lones, Thomas Armstrong, and James ]\Iar- 
tin, or any three of them, were to purchase and take 'as- 
surance to them and their heirs of a piece of land, situate 
in some convenient place, at Easton, on Lehietan, in tlie 
Forks of the river Delaware, in trust, and for the use of 
the inhabitants of the said county, and thereon to erect 
and build a court house and prison, suilicient to accom- 
modate the jjublic vservice of the said county, and for the 
ease and conveniency of the inhabitants. For that j)ur- 
pose, a sum of money, not exceeding three hundred 
pounds, was to be raised by tax. 

A few years after the county had been erected, a court 
house and jail were built — the latter in 1753, and the 
ibrmer in 1754. The courts were held at the house of 
Mr. Jacob Bachman, as appears from the following: 

"February 19, 1745 — the commissioners had an order 
-drawn in favor of Jacob iiachman for £Q, for one year'* 



HISTORY OF KORTHAMPTOX COUNTY. 21 

rent of his house in Easton, for holding the courts and 
t 'lections." ^ 

The first court was held the Ittthof .fuiie, 1752. Some 
>>xtracts of the proceedings are given : 

'•At a court of our Lord the King, held at Easton for 
the county of Northampton, the 16th day of June, in the 
'i'lth year of our Sovereign Lord, George II, by the 
Grace of God, King of Great Britain, France, Ireland, 
&c.. A. D. 1752, before Thomas Craig, Timothy Horse- 
field, Hugh Wilson, James Martin, and William Craig, 
Justices of our Lord the King, the peace in the said coun- 
ty to keep, as also divers felonies, trespasses and other 
offences, in said county committed, to hear and deter- 
mine, assigned by commission, dated the 9th day of June 
1752. 

'■• Jane 16, 1752, Lewis Gordon having presented liira- 
self to the court that he was admitted an attorney to 
practice law in Philadelphia and Bucks, was, upon his 
prayer, admitted an attorney to practice in the courts of 
Northampton. 

'••' A draught, and return of Heidelberg township, under 
the hand of David Schultz, V/'as allowed and ordered to 
be minuted. 

'• The petition of a number of the inhabitants settled 
on the back parts of Macoiijie, praying that they might 
be formed into a township, was allowed, and Mr. Scull, 
surveyor of the county, to run out the same. 

" The several petitions of Adam Teets, Christian Hay- 
maker, William Craig, William Anderson, Paul INIiller, 
Paul Pollyard, (Balliot) Elias Painter, George Zewitz, 
Henry Hillman, George Cleim, David Geery, David 
Owen, Christopher Walbor, John Lighton, George Good, 
and John Lefever, for recommendations to his Honor, 
the Governor, for license to keep public houses, were al- 
lowed ; and those of Nathanial Vernon, and John Atkin- 
son, were rejected. 

" Upon the petition of divers inhabitants of Lower 
Smithfield township, Joseph Seely was appointed con- 
stable of the said township — the former constable being 
dead. 



22 HISTORY OP NORTHAMPTON COUNTY. 

" The following constables made default in their ap- 
pearance, viz : the constables of Upper Saucon, Mac- 
onjie, Heidelberg, Durham, Bethlehem, Upper Smith- 
field, adjacent to Heidelberg, Upper Milford, Allemen- 
gell, Lynford at Piketon, Forks of Delaware ; adjacents 
of Allentown ; adjacent to Upper Smithfield, Lower 
Smithfield. iVo/e — the constable of Durham is in Bucks 
county." 

"At a Court of Record of our Lord the King, held at 
Easton, for the county of Northampton, the 3d day of 
October, in the 2Gth year of our Sovereign Lord, George 
n, by the Grace of God, King of Great Britain, France, 
Ireland, &c., A. D. 1752, before Thomas Craig, Daniel 
Broadhead, Hugh Wilson, James JMartin, Aaron Depui, 
and John Venetta, Esqrs., of our Lord the King, the 
peace in said county to keep, &c., by conmiission, dated 
June 9, 1752. 

'' The Court being opened, the Sherilf, one Joseph 
Hart, Esq., returned the precept to him directed, and the 
following persons were qualified to serve on the Grand 
inquest : 

" Samuel Depui, Foreman, James Rawlston, William 
Casselberry, Robert Gregg, Robert Lile, Lawrence Mar- 
kell, Alexander Miller, Michael Moore, Garrett Brink, 
Charles Broadhead, James Horner, John Atkinson, John 
McFarring, David Owen, Nathaniel Yenion. 

" A^o/e — Isaac Vancampcn, Benjamin Shoemaker, John 
Walker, John Cowken, summoned to serve on the Grand 
Inquest, made default in their appearan.ce. 

" The following persons were made Supervisors, viz : 

" Isaac Telb and Christian Crall, for Upper Milford ; 
James Cooker and Philip Sclilauge, for Lower Saucon ; 
Conrad Hess and PJiilip Podcwalder, for Williamton. 

"The following, constables, viz: 

" Thomas Clarke, for tlie Forks of Delaware ; Christian 
Newcomer, for Upper Saucon ; Joseph Olbert, for Ma- 
cunjie ; Michael HoJTman, for Egyi>ta ; Conrad Blose, for 
Heidelberg ; Adam Schuler, for Upper Milford ; David 
Bellman, for AUemengell ; Sanmel Bougher, for Lower 
Saucon; Michael Shoemaker, for WiiUamton; Jamos 



HISTORY OF NORTHAMPTON COUNTY. 23 

Perry, for Bethlehem ; James Craig, for Allentowii ; 
Philip Trom, adjacent to Allentowii ; Adam Plank, for 
Salisbury ; Johannes Venetta, for Upper Smithfield. 
Joseph Seely was appointed in June term, constable for 
Lower Smithfield. 

" The Sheriff stated that Robert Gregg, Peter Traxler, 
and Benjamin Shoemaker were chosen commissioners ; 
that Frederick Scull, George Custard, John Holder, James 
Rawlston, John Walker and Joseph Everhart were elect- 
ed assessors. 

" The petition of divers persons, inhabitants of a tract 
of land eight miles long by three miles broad, bounded 
on one side by the West Branch of Delaware, and on 
the other side by the respective townships of Upper Sau- 
con. Upper Milford, Macunjie and Whitehall, praying 
that the same may be laid out in a township to be called 
Salisburg, was allowed." i 

At the time Northampton was erected, it embraced all 
that is now comprised with the counties of Monroe, Pike, 
Wayne, Susquehanna, Wyoming, Luzerne, Carbon, Le- 
high, and a portion of Schuylkid ; but it was gradually 
reduced, as will appearin the sequel, by erecting other 
counties out of it. The following townships were organ- 
ized in Northampton county, prior to 1763, viz : 

Whitehall, Lynn, Heidelberg, Weissenberg, Lower 
Saucon, Mount ]3ethel, Forks, Williamstown, Salisbury, 
Upper Milford, Low Hill, INIacunjie, Allen, Plainfield, 
Easton, Lehigh, Upper Saucon, Lower Smithfield, Up- 
per Smithfield, Towaminsing, jNIoore, Bethlehem, Chest- 
nuthill, Hamilton, Northampton, Delaware, Pemi. 

The following mills had been built before the county 
was erected — Schujt^' mill, ',Bropi's, Samuel Depui's, 
Wilson's, Trucker's, Mayer'^s," Friedenthal's, George 
Sewitz', Frederick Isen's, John Jones'. 



CHAPTER YI. 

PRESENT LIMITS, &c. OF THE COUNTY. 

The limits of Northampton comity were gradually 
reduced. By an act passed March 21, 1772, Northum- 
berland county was erected out of parts of the counties 
of Lancaster, Cumberland, Bedford, Berks, and North- 
ampton : and by erecting Wayne county, according to 
act of Assembly, March 21st, 179S, Northampton had 
more than half of its territory " lopped off J' The act of 
179S required that, "all that part of Northampton county, 
lying to the northward of a line to be drawn, and begin- 
ning at the west end of George Michael's farm on the 
river Delaware, in Middle Smithfield township, and from 
thence a straight line to the mouth of Front creek on tlie 
Lehigh, adjoining Luzern county." 

Li erecting Schitylkill county, according to an act 
passed March 1st, 1811, William Penn and Rush town- 
ships, of Northampton county, were separated from this 
county, and included within the bounds of Schuylkill. 

Like the farm of a lloman patriot, Northampton had 
to surrender territory for an entire county — Lehigh^ 
which was separated from Northampton by an act of 
Assembly passed March 6th, 1812. In 1836, according 
to an act passed in April of that year, another portion 
was taken from it to form Monroe county. And still 
another considerable portion was separated in 1S43 — "all 
that portion of Northampton which lies north of the ]31ue 
mountain," was taken to form part of Cay^hoji cowwXj. 

Its present area is about three hundred and seven if/ 
square miles — containing rising of 230,000 acres of land. 
The county, as at present reduced, is bounded on the 
north by Carbon and Monroe ; east by the river Dela- 
ware, separating it from New Jersey ; south by Bucks, 
and west by Lehigh county. Its population exceeds 
35>jOOO. The county is divided into the following town^ 



HISTORY OF NORTHAMPTON COUNTY. 25 

ships : Allen, Bethlehem, Bushkill, Forks, Hanover, Le- 
high, Lower Mount Bethel, Lower Nazareth, Moore, 
Plainfield, Saucon, Upper JVIonnt Bethel, Upper Naza- 
reth, Williams, two boroughs, Easton and South Easton. 

The county, as now limited, is entirely within the range 
south of the Blue mountain, some times called Kittatin- 
ny — originally called by the Indmns Kau-ta-ti7i -chunk, 
I. e. the Main, or principal Motintain, which forms at 
present the northern boundary of the county. It is a 
very regular ridge, nearly uniform in height ; averaging 
about twelve hundred feet. There are several gaps or 
passes through the Blue mountain, within the county. 
These are the Delaware ivater gap, where the Delaware 
river passes through it ; the Wind gap, fifteen miles above 
tiie Delaware ; the Little gap, and the Lehigh ivater 
gap. The mountain is generally steep, rocky, unfit for 
cultivation, and not well timbered. A description of 
tliese several gaps, is attempted below. 

The county is unsurpassed by any in East Pennsyl- 
vania for fertility of soil, improvements of various kinds. 
The general appearance of the country every where, in- 
dicates prosperity and plenty. AVherever the traveller 
turns his eye, he sees substantial, neat store-houses — huge 
barns — fine churches — beautiful orchards, burdened 
down with fruit. German industry every where richly 
ci'owned. The fev/ L'ish descendants remaining, differ 
here from that class of people elsewhere in the Statt . 
These are nearly all successful farmers. Mills of every 
description are abundant and convenient.* 

To return to the Gaps in the Kittatinny mountain : 

Tlie Little Gap, or '• Dei Kleine Kcift,'' or Smith's 
Gap, is between the Lehigh Water Gap and the Wind 
Gap. 

Die Wind Kaft, or the TVind Gap, is a depression, 
notch, or opening in the Blue mountain, which is very 
abrupt, and extends from the top nearly to the bottom 
of the mountain. No stream passes through. Various 

* For a description of the soil, &c., sec the description of the several 
towuships. 



26 HISTORY OF NORTHAMPTON COUNTY. 

liavQ been the conjectures touching the cause of this 
notch, Tlie conjecture most prevalent as to tlie origin 
of tire Kdft, is, that it was caused by the Delaware river, 
where, as is supposed, it formed a lake behind the moun- 
tain, and may Imve opened a passage at the notcJi or 
gap. Those mahitahiing this view, theorize thus : " That 
at some time, anterior to the Delaware river having burst 
its way, where it now runs, there may have been somt! 
slight depression at the Wind Gap, and subsequently to 
the Delaware passing its barrier, vast masses of ice may 
have choaked up the passage below, where the river 
again formed a lake, many ieet higher than it was in da}T? 
af yore, and this water may have been discharged, till 
the ice 3?'ielded, and suffered the river once more, and 
ever since, to pass." This is, however, mere theory. 

The Wind Gap is fifteen miles above the Delaware 
Water Gap. 

The mountain is here depressed nearly as low as the 
country on each side, for a gap of peculiar convenience 
for the passage of travellers and teams, and towards 
which the leading roads converge and pass through in 
one great tlioroughfare. The turnpike road passes 
tin'ough here. 

In the year 1774, Simon Tfeller, Casper Dull, Jonas 
llartzali, Adam Hublcr, Abraham Labor, and Adam 
Joke, were appointed to lay out a public road, or King's 
Jiighway, from the north side of the Blue mountain, be- 
ginning at the Wind Gap, in the most direct and conve- 
nient course to Wyoming, so that the communication be- 
tween said places may be rendered safe and easy. Gen. 
Sullivan, with an army, marched from Easton to Wyo- 
ming on this road daring the Revolution, in June 1779. 

The Delaware Water Gap is thirty miles above Easton, 
and is worth a voyage across the Atlantic to see it. Va- 
rious are the theoretical conjecturesas to the cause of this 
rent in the rocks — disarrangement of the rupic moun- 
tain mass. It is a stupendous work, and the " 7'ent " is 
cluism aticissini us. 

The estimated height of the mountains, on either side, 
is from 1500 to 1600 feet ; the width of the space between 



HISTORY OF NORTHAMPTON COUNTY. 2/ 

the two mountains at the base, one thousand feet ; and 
at the summit, two thousand feet ; the whole distance 
through the mountain is about two miles. In making- 
an estimate of the amount of matter thrown out by tlic 
passing of the Delaware, if only one mile in length is 
taken into the account, would then give the enormous 
amount of cubic feet to be 12,672,000,000, a sufficiency 
o-f matter to cover a township of five miles square, or 
twenty-five square miles, fifteen feet in depth ! 

Well might it be said, " Here has been a convulsion 
that must have shaken the earth to the very center, aiul 
the elements to give signs that all was lost.'' " But 
He who governs the world and has all things at Hif 
command — He who liolds the globe by the might of his 
]:)Ower, can remove the mountains from their foimdation? 
and bury them in the deep, and the great machinery of 
the universe continue to move, and lose none of its func- 
tions." 

Various are the conjectures as to the formative cause 
of these Gaps in the mountain. " It would seem," says 
a certain writer, in speaking of this Gap, "from the quan- 
tity of alluvial lands above the mountain, that, at some 
remote period, a dam of great height here obstructed tte 
progress of the Delaware. If it had been as high, or halt" 
as high as the mountain, it would have raised the water 
tliat it might have run into the North River. It probably 
had an elevation of 150 or 200 feet, forming a lake of 
more than fifty miles in length, covering the Meenesink 
settlements. This height niust have formed cataracts 
similar, the quantity of water excepted, to that of Ni- 
agara. 

" It has been conjectured, that this dam was engulfed 
by some great convulsion of the earth : and the following 
reasons have been assigned for this opinion : The dis- 
tance through the mountain is about two miles, within 
which the river has an average width of half a mile, and 
the Avater is as still as a mill-pond, so that a raft will be 
driven by the impulse of the wind up or down; and the 
boatmen report that a hundred and ten years ago, no 
bottom could be found with their lon2;est line. 



28 HISTORY OF NORTHAMPTON' COUNTY. 

" Had the mountain been worn by abrasion, siicli a 
gulf would not have existed, and the bottom of the river 
here would have consisted of the same material which 
forms the side of the pass ; but the bottom is of alluvial 
mud, and the nucleus of the mountain is of a hard granite, 
peculiar to the place. It is also well known that alluvial 
particles, which float in the swift current subsides in the 
pools ; and it has been noted by an accurate observer, 
that the river is always much more muddy, or rily, as 
the phrase is, uhovt than below the Gap. Hence a large 
proportion of the alluvion carried down the stream must 
have been deposited in this gulf. Supposing the dam to 
have sunk one thousand years ago, and two feet of earth 
per annum to have been thus deposited, 2000 feet must 
tJius have been heaped upon the original dam, supposed 
to have been one hundred and fifty or two hundred feet 
high." 

All are agreed that it was owing to some great cause, 
a mighty disturbance of elements, which wrought a 
change hi the current, as well as the strata of rock. Pro- 
fessor Rogers mantains, while some hold some vast lake 
Jiad burst its barriers, that by some mighty convulsion, 
which produced transverse dislocation in the Appalachian 
cdiange, may have caused this rent, or chasm. 

Speaking of this great convulsion, he says: "The 
numerous gaps and breaks in the line of the Blue moun- 
tain, or Kittatinny, exhibits, very generally, a correspond- 
ing law. 

" This is sliown by the measurements at the wide 
Gap of the Susquehanna above Harrisburg, and is mani- 
fest to the eye in the bold notch called the Water Gap 
of the Delaware, where the strata that rise into the sum- 
mit of the mountain on the New Jersey side of the river, 
ai'e thrown several hundred feet to the north of those in 
a corresponding position. In Pennsylvania, I conceive 
these transverse locations to pervade all tlie great ridges 
and valleys of our Appalachian region, and to be a prima- 
ry cause of most, if not all those deep notches, which are 
kiiftu'-n by the name of TFater Gaps, and which cleave 



HISTORY OF NORTHAMPTON COUNTY. 2<9 

SO many of our high mountain ridges to their very bases. "^ 
Both theories, and the theory of a gradual abrasion^ 
may be supported by some plausible facts. However, 
may it not be that " those stupendous steeps were erected 
for the sole purpose of man's observation ; that he might 
be impressed with a proper train of reflections upon the 
power and dignit}^ of his Maker — of the inferiority of 
jnan, and the instability of human things? But, what 
caused the opening of the mountains, whether by one 
jnighty explosion, or by gradually wearhig dov/n to the 
present bed of the river, is a subject too capacious for the 
limited genius of man to dwell upon." t 

May not Job be right? "He putteth forth his hand 
upon the rock, he overturneth the mountains by the roots. 
He cutteth out 7'ivers among the rocks, and his eye 
sceth every precious thing. Job 28 ; 9, 10. 

On the south side of the county are " the Lehigh hills,'" 
locally known as the South Mountain ; though scarcely 
desendng that name. " In some places, however, they 
;u'e quite steep, and when viewed from the level countiy 
l)elow them, appear very formidable. This county is 
well watered, and the streams afibrd abundant water 
power. The rivers of the county are the Lehigh and 
J)elaware, with numerous tributaries. 

DELAWARE RIVER. 

The Delaware river, which forms the eastern bounda- 
ry of this county, is so called from some French, who, it 
is said, commenced settlements near the head of the Bay. 
It was called by them "La reviere de la ivare," or "De- 
la-ware," which words at length formed Delaware. This 
river was known among the Indians by various names, 
as Pontaxas, Marisqueton, MakerisMtton, Makerisk- 
kiskon, Lenawihittuck, (Stream of the Lenape.) By the 

* Second Annual Report on the Geological Exploration of the State of 
Pennsylvania, pa. 79. 

f Editor of New York 8un. 



30 HISTORY OF NORTHAMPTON COUNTY. 

Dutch it was called Zuydt, or south river, Nassau river ; 
and by the Swedes, New Sicedeland Stream. 

The Delaware rises by two principal streams in the 
State of New York. It is rather crooked in its course, 
until it passes the Gaji. Its principal tributaries from 
tiie west, in Monroe county, are Marshall's creek. Cher- 
ry creek, Smithfield creek; Broadhead's, Pocono and 
M'Michael's, branches of Smithfield creek. From North- 
ampton county are the Cobuss, Oquirton, Martin's creek, 
and Bushkill ; and at Easton it receives the Lehigh with 
its numerous tributaries, and flows ouAvard. * 

* A full description of the river is deemed unnecessary. The character 
of this work precludes lengthy descriptions. 



CHAPTEE YII. 

EASTON, EARLY HISTORY OF, &c. 

Easton, the seat of justice, it sppears, was laid out by 
Hugh Wilson, of Allen township, and Col. Martin, of 
Mount Bethel, commissioners, and William Parsons, sur- 
veyor, about the year 1737 or '38. The Moravians had 
a Brother house here at an early period — a large edifice 
of stone — ^it is now one of the oldest buildings in, the 
place, forming a part of Mr. John Bachman's hotel. The 
town did not improx^e rapidly till after 1752, when it 
became the seat of justice of the new county. 

It was a favorite place between the years 1755 and 
1762, for holding treaties with the Indians. These trea- 
ties were usually attended with much pomp and cere- 
mony. The limits of this work preclude giving all the 
treaties at length. One, which it is believed will be 
read with interest, is inserted at length. 

Council held at Easton, Saturday the 24th July, 175G. 

Present — The Hon. R. H. Morris, Lieut. Gov. of Pa.; 
William Logan, Benj. Chew, Richard Peters, John Mif- 
flin, Esqrs. 

Three members of the council were sent with a strmg 
of wampum to the Delaware King, to acquaint him that 
the governor was come, and, by them, bid him and his 
company welcome among the inhabitants, and assur*; 
him that, as the Indians were come on the invitation 
of the governor, their persons should not be hurt ; ho 
would aflbrd them protection, and charge his people Xo 
treat them with kindness. That to-morrow being Sun- 
day, no business could be done, but on Monday morning 
the governor would hold a council, send for them, and 
begin the conference. The strinar was siven to New- 



32 HISTORY OF NORTHAMPTON COUNTY. 

castle first, as one of the Six Nations, to be given to the 
King. 

The members, being returned from Teedynscung, in- 
formed the governor, that when they attempted to use 
John Pumpshire as interpreter, the King said he had an 
interpreter of his own, and presented a young Indian 
called Benjamin, an impudent, forward youth, who had 
enlisted in the Jersey companies, and afterwards desert- 
ed, and went over to the enemy Indians at Diahoga ; 
John Pourshire said he could not be concerned in inter- 
preting, if Benjamin was allowed to speak, but he would 
attend to what should be said by the King, and in case 
of forgetfulness or misapprehension in Benjamin, he 
would endeavor to set him right ; and as Benjamin un- 
dei'stood English, he might be allowed. 

The members further acquainted the governor, that 
the King thanked him for his kind message, and the as- 
surances of protection to him and his company ; that it 
gave him great satisfaction, and he would let the Six 
Nations know this, and every thing else that should be 
done. He said the Indians knew nothing of Sunday, 
but the governor did well to rest himself after his journey, 
and when he had rested, the Indians would return him 
an answer to his message. He was told that the Chris- 
tians employed Sunday in the service of God, the one 
great Creator and G overnor of the world. 

10^ On the twenty-fifth, Teedyuscung waited on the 
governor, thanked him for his message, and gave a string 
to open his eyes and clear his throat ! 

Easton, Monday, 26 July, 1756 — present, the same 
persons as before. 

After reading the several papers relative to the propos- 
ed treaty, the governor desired the council would draw 
up a speech to the Indians. 

And then the Indians were sent for into council, and 
the governor made them the usual addresses of clearing 
their throat, ears and eyes, and healing the hurt of their 
legs. 

The King gave a string, to assure the governor that 



HISTORY OF XORTHAMPTON COUNTY. 33 

sincerity should attend every thing he spoke on the pre- 
sent occasion, and the governor made the same profes- 
sions. Then the Governor told him Mr. Weiser, who 
was one of the Six Nations, and Provincial interpreter, 
not being yet come, he was obliged to put otf the con- 
ference tiU his arrival; of which the King approved, and 
the Governor invited him to dine with him. 

Easton, Wednesday, 2Sth July, 1756. 

Same persons present as before, adding Conrad Weiser 
and Pourshire. Mr. Weiser coming to Easton yesterday, 
he was sent for into council and conferred with. The 
matters that had passed since the Governor's arrival at 
Easton were related to him, the governor's second mes- 
sage, and Sir William Johnson's letter to Gen. Aber- 
€rombie were read. 

It was Mr. Weiser's opinion, that, as no answers were 
returned to the governor's second message, it Avas the 
business of Teedyuscung to give the answers first, before 
the G overnor said any thing ; and accordingly Pourshire 
was sent for, and this was mentioned to him, who thought 
the conference should begin by Teedyuscung's delivering 
the answers of the Diahoga Indians. He went to Tee- 
dyuscung and acquainted him with it, and returned to 
the Governor and informed him, that this proposal was 
agreeable to the King. 

At a conference held at Easton, Wednesday, the 2Sth 
July, 1756. 

Present — The Hon. R. H, Morris, Esq., Lieut. Gov.; 
William Logan, Richard Peters, Benjamin Chew, and 
John Mifflin, Esqrs., of the council. 

John Fox, John Hughes, and William Edmunds, 
Commissioners. 

Teedyuscung, the Delaware chief, and fourteen other 
chiefs. 

Conrad Weiser, Esq., Interpreter for the Six Nations. 

John Pumpshire, Joseph Peepy, Ben., Interpreters for 
the Delawares. 

A large company, consisting of officers of the Royal 
c 



34 HISTORY OF NORTHAMPTON COUNTY. 

American Regiment, and of the Provincial forces, magis- 
trates and free-holders of this and the neighboring pro- 
vhice, and about thirty citizens of Philadelphia. 

The governor acquainted the Indians that he was 
going to speak, and desired them to be attentive. 

Brother — By a belt, which I sent by Newcastle, 
and the other Indian messengers to Dialioga, I informed 
the Indians there, that I had kindled a council fire. By 
another string, I inviteci them to^ it : and by a string ot 
wampum, I cleared the road that they might come in 
safety to us. I assured you of a hearty welcome as soon 
as I came here, and of my protection, and I new, in the 
name of this government, again bid you welcome. As 
Capt. Newcastle brought me no answers to some part of 
the messages 1 sent last by him, I expect to recei\^e those 
by you. I liope you come prepared to speak to us sin- 
cerely and openly, and desire you may do so. A sti'ing. 

To which Teedyuscung immediately answered : Las-t 
spring, you sent me a string, and as soon as I heard the 
good word from you, I was glad, and as you told us, we 
believe it came from your hearts, so we felt it in our 
hearts, and received what you said with joy. 

Brotlier — Tlie first messages you sent me came in 
tlic spring ; they touched my heart ; they gave me abun- 
dance of joy. I returned an answer to them, and waited 
for your second messages, which came after some time, 
and were likewise very agreeable. By the last, you ac- 
quainted me that 3'ou had kindled a council fire, and in- 
vited me and my people to it. We accepted the invita- 
tion and I came accordingly, and have staid several days 
smoking my pipe with patience, expecting to meet you 
here ; wc arc ready to hear what 3'^ou have to say, and 
not only we, but five other Nations, in all ten Nations, 
are now turning their eyes this way, and wait what shall 
be said and done at this meeting. 

Brother — I solemnly and with th^e utmost sincerity 
declare, that, though you may think I am alone liere, yet 
It will not be long before you will be convhiced that I am 
here by the appointment of ten nations, among which 
are my uncles, the Six Nations, authorized me to treat 



HISTORY OP NORTHAMPTON COUNTY. 35 

with you, and what I do they will all confirm — the trntii 
of this, y^oii will soon have made evident to you. 

Brother — Hearken to what I am going to say ; I de- 
clare in the most solemn manner, that what I now relate 
is the truth. Abundance of confusion, disorder and dis- 
traction, has arisen among the Indians, from people tak- 
ing upon them to be kings and persons in authority. In 
every tribe of Indians, there have been such pretenders, 
v\/ho have held treaties, sometimes public and sometimes 
in the bushes ; sometimes what those people did, came to 
be known, but Irequently it remained in darkness, or at 
least no more was imparted or published than they were 
pleased to publish ; to some they held up their belts, bui 
others never saw them. This bred among the Indians 
great heart-burnings and quarrels, and I can assure yoi. 
that the present clouds do in a great measure owe thei*: 
rise to this wild and irregular way of doing business. 
The Indians, sensible of this mistake of our ancestors, art, 
now determined to put an end to this multitude of kingt: 
and to this dark way of proceedings ; they have agreec!. 
to put the management of their ati'airs into the hands of 
. ii very few, and these shall no longer have it in thei;- 
power to huddle up and give partial representations o'" 
what is done. I assure you that there are only tw< 
kings appointed to transact public business, of which I 
iim one ; for the future, matters will go better on botl. 
sides ; you, as well as we, will know with whom we have 
to deal. We must beseech the most Higli to scatter the 
clouds which have arisen between us, that we settle peace 
as heretofore. ^2 string. 

Brother — 'The English, and particularly the Gover- 
nor of Pennsylvania, you know, have invited me here 5 
I came, therefore, and my uncles, the Six Nations, wiL 
confirm what I say. In your messages to the Indians 
;it Diahoga, you signified to us that you heard we were 
in want and distress, which, to be sure, we were ; and 
pitied us and our poor wives and children ; we took it 
kindly and as a word that came from your heart ; now is 
the time for you to look about and act the part of a chari- 
lable and wise man ; be therefore strong. Be assured thai 



36 HISTOHY OF NORTHAMPTON COUNTT. 

although I am poor, I will do my share : whatever kind- 
ness you do to me or my people, shall be published at 
the Ten Nations ; we wont hide any presents yon shall 
give us ; every body shall know that we have heard your 
good words ; we will not do as others, and some of our 
uncles, the Six Nations, have done, sneak away and hide 
your words and presents in the bushes ; but shall publish 
far and near that all may join with us. Exert yourselvel 
now in the best manner yo\i can, and you will obtaiu 
your end. 

Brother — The conclusion of my words is no more than 
this : the matter in hand is of too great moment for ono 
man. I am but a messenger from the united Nations ; 
though I act as a chief man among the Delawares, 1 must 
now hear what you have to say to my people, at this 
council fire. If it be good, I shall lay hold of it and carry 
it to the united Nations, who will smile and be pleased 
to hear good news ; if what you say be disagreeable, I 
will notwithstanding keep it close (there he closed his 
fist) and deliver it laithfully to the united Nations, and 
let them, as ti»ey are my superiors, do as they see cause. 

Being asked if he had done speaking, he said he had 
for the present. The main thing, he added, is yet in my 
breast, laying his hand to his heart ; but this will depend 
on what words theUovernor will speak to us. Then he re-> 
peated the Delaware word IVhishsfdksy, the same in Mo- 
hawk language as Jogo, with great earnestness, and in a 
very pathetic tone, Mr. Weiser, who knew the word to 
have a very extensive and forcible sense, desired the In- 
terpreter to ask him what he meant by IVhishshik.^iy on 
this particular occasion, and explained himself in the fol- 
lowing manner : " Sup]:)ose you want to move a large log 
of wood that requires many hands, you must take pains 
to get as many together as will do the business ; if you 
fall short of one, though ever so weak a one, all the rest 
are to no purpose ; though this being in itself nothing, 
yet if you cannot move the log without it, you nmst spare 
no pains to get it — PF/i ish.shick.s?/ ,he strong, look around 
you, enable us to get every Indian nation we can to put 
the means into our hands *, be sure, perform every pro- 



HISTORY OP NORTHAMPTON COUNTY. 37 

inise you liave made to us ; in particular, do not pinch 
matters neitlier with us nor other Indians; we help you ; 
but we are poor and ^/"ou are rich ; make us strong, and 
we v\nll use our strength for you ; and besides this, what 
you do, do quickh''; the times are dangerous — they wiH 
not admit of delay, fVhishshiksy ; do it effectually, and 
do it with all possible despatch. 

The Governor then spoke : 
Brother — I have heard with attention ail you have 
said, 1 thank you for the openness with which you have 
declared your sentiments ; the matters mentioned are of 
importance ; I have laid them to heart ; I will consider 
them with my council ; when I am prepared to speak, I 
will let you know ; I will use despatch, the time being, as 
you justly observe, dangerous. 

Easton, on Thursday, 29th July, 1756. 
(The same persons present as day before.) 

Brother — I am going to speak to you on the aftair 
we are met about ; my speech will contain matters of 
great moment. 

By this string of wampum, therefore, I open your ears 
that you may give a proper attention. A string. 

Brother — -The inhabitants of this province have ever 
been a peaceable people, and remarkable for their love 
and constant friendship to the Six Nations, and other In- 
dians in alliance with them. When our back inhabitants 
were attacked last fall, we at first were at a loss from 
whence the blow came, and were much surprised when 
we were informed that it was given by our old friends 
and neighbors, the cousins of our brethren, the Six Na- 
tions. We wondered at it, and the more so as we had 
not, to our knowledge, given them any just cause of 
offence. As soon as we knew this, we sent to the Six 
Nations, and informed them of it, and desired to know, 
whether this blow had been struck by their direction, or 
with their privity or consent ; and on receiving assu- 
rances from them that it was not done by their consent, 
and that they groatly disapproved such conduct, wq 



38 HISTORY OF NORTHAMPTON COUNTY. 

made ready to revenge the injury we had received, and 
we wanted neither men, arms, ammunition or strength to 
do it, and to take vengeance for the injury done us ; yet 
when we had the hatchet in our hands, and were pre- 
pared, not only to defend ourselves, but to carry the 
war into the country of those who had struck us, we 
sent again to the Six Nations, agreeably to the treaties 
subsisting between us, to acquaint them of our inten- 
tions. They let us know they had held a great council at 
Fort Jolmson, on this matter, and that deputies from 
thence were sent to summon a meeting of the Dela- 
wares and Shawanese, at Ostanigo, who were returned 
with an account that their nephews had, at their inter- 
position, laid down the hatchet, and would strike the 
English no more. The Six Nations having received 
these assurances from the Delawares and Shawanese, 
requested us not to execute our hostile purposes, but to 
suspend hostilities, declaring that they wovild fully ac- 
commodate this breach, and bring about a peace. At 
this request of the Six Nations, we kept our warriors at 
home for guarding and protecting our frontiers. I then 
sent Captain Newcastle and other Indian messengers, to 
you, to notify the advices of the Six Nations, with re- 
spect to what had been detenuined at Ostanigo, instruct- 
ing him, in case he found you sincerely disposed to 
peace, and inclined to return to your alliance with us, 
to assure you, on the behalf this government, that we 
were willing to it, on just and honorable terms. New- 
castle and the other messengers returned with your 
answers, in which you acknowledge you had been 
under the influence of an evil spirt, but were well dis- 
posed to return to your old amity and friendship ; at the 
same time letting us know that you was sorry for what 
had passed — that you was in distress, and desired we 
would pity your distresses. To show our readiness to 
enter into a treaty, and our sincerity in Avhat was said 
by Newcastle, I sent him back again to you, to let you 
know on behalf of this government, that I had kindled 
a council fire, invited all of your people to it, cleared 
the road, washed off the blood, and promised, if your 



nrsTOUY OF Northampton countt. 39 

people would come to council and renew former leagues, 
and do what is further necessary on this occasion, 1 
would bring something with me to relieve your dis- 
tresses. I thought it right to go through this account 
in this particular manner, that you might know froni 
myself v/hat was the subject of the messages sent by 
Newcastle, and what was the substance of the answers 
received by him ; and now I suppose (as I do not see 
the body of your Indians here) your people in general 
did not believe Newcastle, but sent you to know if he 
had my authority for the several matters delivered to you, 
and to hear them from my own mouth. 1 do not blame 
you for this caution. It bespeaks your care. The mat- 
ters he was charged with, being of the last concern for 
the satisfaction of all your people, whithersoever dis- 
persed, I do in this public assembly, in the name of the 
government and people of this province, assure you, 
that Captain Newcastle acted by my authority, and in 
confirmation of what I have said, and that what he de- 
livered was by authority from me, I give you this belt. 
.i belt. 

Brother — Being now convinced out of my mouth 
of the smcerity of my professions made to you by Cap- 
tain Newcastle, and of the dispositions of the people of 
this province to renew the ancient friendship that sub- 
sisted between William Penn and the Indians, I desire 
you will report this to the Indians at Diahoga and to the 
Six Nations, and all the Indians far and near, as my 
words spoken to them in the name, and on the behalf 
of the government of Pennsylvania. I invite them all 
to this council fire — the greatest number that shall 
come, the more acceptable it will be to me. I invite and 
desire you will bring with you your whole people ; 
but then you must bring here with you also all pris- 
oners you have taken during these disturbances. I 
must insist on this as an evidence of your sincerity, to 
make a lasting peace ; for without it, though peace may 
be made from the teeth outwards, yet while you retain 
our flesh and blood in slavery, it cannot be expected we 
(iau be friends with you, or that a peace can come from 



40 HISTORY OF NORTHAMPTON COUNTV. 

our hearts. I repeat this article of the prisoners as a ne- 
cessary condition of peace, and desire yon will consider 
it as such ; if in this you deal with us sincerely, we shall 
esteem you sincere in every respect, and proceed to re- 
new our former leagues and covenants, and hecome 
again one flesh as before ; and must remind you (as we 
are acting in concert with the Six Nations,) to bring 
some of your uncles along with you, that they may see 
all that passes, and be witness of the good effects of 
their and our message to you. %^ belt. 

Brother — In testimony of the satisfaction you have 
given all our people by coming to this council fire, they 
have put into my hands a small present for you and 
your men, which will be given you at any time you 
shall think proper. I have likewise given orders to the 
captains of the forts on the frontiers, to furnish you witli 
as much provision as you can carry, for the use of tlio 
people you have left behind you. 

Brother — Only a few of you are come down ; this 
present of goods, therefore, is but small. When the 
body of your nation comes here, which I expect they 
will, and the prisoners are delivered up, and a iirnj 
peace made, large presents will be given, and your dis- 
tresses relieved in a more ample manner. 

Brother — Great works require strong hands and 
many — this is a good and great one — the works of 
peace — it requires strong heads and stought hearts — we 
desire many such may be joined together. I therefore 
desire 3^our assistance for Pennsylvania in this matter. 
Having great influence with many who live far distant 
from us, you are esteemed, and will be heard ; we there- 
fore choose you as agent and counsellor for this prov- 
ijice. Engage in it heartily — you ought to do it — ^\''ou 
owe it to the country in which you was born — you owe 
it to your brethren, the English. Yon owe it to your own 
people over which you preside. We desire you will 
heartily undertake it, and use your utmost endeavors 
to bring about this great and good work we have now 
begun. A large belt. 

Teedyuscung answered that he had received the 



HISTORY OF NORTHAMPTON COUNTY. 41 

Governor's words kindly, and would in a few words 
answer him. Then taking a large belt in his hand, he 
proceeded : 

Brother — At the very time Newcastle came with your 
last messages, I was in treaty with the Six Nations, and 
received this authority from them, (lifting up the belt.) 
This belt denotes that the Six Nations, by their chiefs, 
liave lately renewed their covenant chains with us. For- 
merly we were accounted women, and employed only in 
women's business ; but now they have made men of us, 
and as such we are now come to this treaty. Having this 
authority as a man to make peace, I have it in my hands, 
but have not opened it, but will soon declare it to the 
other nations. This belt holds together nations — we are 
in the middle, between the French and the English. Look 
at it. There are but two chiefs of the Ten Nations. They 
are now looking on, and their attention is fixed to see — 
are disposed really for peace. This belt further denotes 
that wlioever will not comply with the terms of peace, 
the Ten Nations will joui against him, and strike him. 
See the dangerous circumstances I am in — strong men on 
both sides — hatchets on both sides ; whoever does in- 
cUne to peace, will I join. 

Brother — This is a good day ; whoever will make 
peace, let them lay hold of this belt, and the nations 
round shall see and know it. I desire to conduct myself 
according to your words, which I will perform to the 
utmost of my power. I wish the same good that pos- 
.scssed the good old man, William Penn, who was a 
friend to the Indians, may inspire the people of this 
province at this time. Then delivered the belt. 

The governor received it. I take hold of this belt, 
and am pleased with what lias been said. It is all very 
good. 

Teedyuscung then explained tlie belt, saying it was 
sent by the Six Nations, and he accepted it ; you see, 
says he, a square in the middle, meaning the lands of the 
Indians, and at one end the figure of a man, indicating 
the English, and at the other end another, meaning the 
French. Our uncles told us that both these coveted our 



42 HISTORY OF NORTHAMPTON COUNTY. 

lands ; but let us join together to defend our lands against 
both ; you should be partakers with us of our lands. 

Teedyuscung and his son came and dined with the 
Governor ; and after dinner some more of the Indians 
coming in, the Governor acquainted Teedyuscung that 
he had something of importance to communicate to 
him. The Governor then informed him, that as he was 
going to council this morning, he received a letter from 
liie northern frontiers with very bad news, that gav^e him 
a great deal of concern. By this letter he received ad- 
vice, that some Indians had killed four of our white peo- 
ple at the Minnisinks, This occasioned our forces to be 
upon their guard, and a party of them fell in with three 
Indians, and judging them to be enemy Indians, one of 
them was killed in endeavoring to make his escape — 
and then the Governor went into particulars, relating to 
Van Etten's letter. 

The Governor said he did not know what Indians had 
done this mischief; if the Indian who was killed, was 
our friend, he was sorry for it ; but if our enemy, he 
was glad of it. 

Teedyuscung said, that when he came here to council, 
all the Indians thereabouts knew of it, and therefore he 
beheved it must be the French Indians that killed our 
people ; but that if his people were so foolish as to come 
in our borders at this time, and were killed anyhow, 
they must take the reward of their folly — none of these 
private deaths ought to etiect a public measure, nor 
would this make any alterations in his councils. 

Easton, Friday, 30th July, 175G. 
(Same persons present as before.) 

The goods were brought and placed on the council 
table, and were delivered to the Indians — the Governor 
speaking as follows: 

Brother — I acquainted you yesterday, that the people 
of Pennsylvania had put into my hands a small present 
to relieve you, and your wives and children, from their 
present distresses. I think it further necessary to inform 
3^ou that a part of this present was given by the people 



HISTORY OF NORTHAMPTON COUNTY. 43 

called Quakers, (who are descendants of those who first 
came over to this country with your old friend William 
Penn,) as a particular testimony of their regard and af- 
fection for the Indians, and their earnest desire to pro- 
mote the good Avork of peace in which we are engaged. 
Brother — This is not only their sentiments, but my 
own, and those of the people of this province, who will 
all rejoice to see this good work of peace perfected ; and 
therefore, as you have now received from us, this is a 
substantial proof of our dispositions to relieve your dis- 
tresses ; you will be better enabled to encourage others 
to return to their friendship with us. I say, brother, by 
this we give you a clear testimony of our readiness and 
good dispositions tor peace ; show you the same, readiness 
and comply with the tei-ms I have proposed to you. ^7 

Teedyuscung returned thanks, and repeated his assu- 
rances of doing all in his power to perfect a general 
peace with the Indians. From the council the Gover- 
nor proceeded to an entertainment that was provided 
for tiie Indians; the officers and all the company then in 
town, accompanied hini. 

Teedyuscung, whilst at dinner, was so well pleased 
with his reception and generous entertainment, that 
he declared, in the warmest manner, no endeavors of 
his should be wanting to bring over to peace all the In- 
dians far and near, that he could speak or send to, and 
repeatedly desired the Governor would publish what 
was done, through his and neighboring provinces, and 
he would do the same at home. 

The Philadelphia Quakers, after dinner, came to take 
their leave of him — he parted with them in a very af- 
fectionate manner ; but the other part of the company 
staying, he entered into a free conversation with the 
Governor, wherein he related many entertaining particu- 
lars respecting his journey to Niagoras, and afterwards 
made a council speech, with a string of wampum, say- 
ing : 

Brother — You are so good, and received us so kindly, 
I will also give you of some of that good tobacco that 



41 HISTOKY OF KOKTHAMPTON COrXTY. 

the Six Nations put into my pipe : you shall smoke of 
it yourselves — you will knovi'' it is good, and I will give 
of the same tobacco wherever I go, (meaning the mes- 
sage from the Six Nations to them, to be at peace with 
tlie English) — the same thing that I have offered you, I 
will offer to all the Indians, and tell them that you have 
smoked of this tobacco ; but to do this, requires me to bo 
rich, and yet I am poor. It will take up a long time, as 
there are many nations to send the pipe to. But in two 
months I hope to go my rounds, and be liere again with 
a large number of different nations. I say it may be in 
two nionths; but it may be longer, as the people liA^e at 
great distances from one another. I assure you, I will 
execute every thing you have desired of me, and let 
tlie Six Nationji know all that has passed between us : 
and that I am your agent and counsellor in the Delaware 
Nation. Ji siring. 

Brother — I will not have you mistake me, as if I 
meant that I could prevail on the Ohio Indians ; I can- 
not tell that they will leave off doing mischief. I hope 
you will strengthen yourselves against them — pray, 
make yourselves as strong as possible on that side. I 
must warn you likewise of another thing; perhaps on 
the east side of the Susquehanna, there may be mischiei' 
done by Indians in my absence ; but be assured it will 
not be by any of my people ; it will be by the French 
Indians from the Ohio, who can easily pass over the 
Susquehanna and do what mischief they please — against 
these you be sure to arm yourselves in the best manner 
you can. Remember I give you this warning, .-i? 
.sfj'ing. 

At a council held at Easton, Friday, the 30th day of 
July, 1756. P.M. 

Present — The Hon. the Governor, William Logan, 
Benjamin Chew, Richard Peters, John Mifflin and Con- 
rad VVeiser, Esqrs. 

Mr. Weiser was asked whether it was intended that 
the Governor should keep the belt Teedyuscung gave, or 
return it. Mr. Weiser answered, that having some 



HISTORY OF NORTHAMPTON COUNTY. 45 

doubts about it, he put the same ([uestion to Newcastle, 
Avho said tlie belt was sent by the Six Nations to the 
TJelawares, and as it was given by them to the Gover- 
nor, it ought to be preserved among the council wam- 
pum, being a belt of great consequence, and it would 
be well to return another a fathom long, and at the de- 
livery of it, which must be in council to-morrow, to make 
a proper address to Teedyuscung, that he would be dilli- 
gent and carry it to all the nations within his influence. 
5s'ewcastle said further, that Teedyuscung would want 
abundance of wampum, and if he had it not, the cause 
Avould sutler exceedingly — he hoped the council bag was 
full, and desired it might be emptied into the lap of 
Teedyuscung. 

Mr. Weiser concurring in opinion, and saying that 
the French gave great quantities of wampum to their 
Indians, and on matters of consequence these belts were 
several fathoms long, and very wide. The Secretary 
was ordered to bring all the wampum he had into coun- 
cil, viz : Fifteen strings and seven belts ; a parcel of neAV 
black wampum, amounting to seven thousand ; and hav- 
ing no new white wam])um, nor any proper belt to give 
in return for Teedyuscung's peace belt. 

A messenger was sent to Bethlehem, and he returned 
with five thousand ; upon which the Indian women 
were employed to make a belt a fathom long and six- 
teen beads wide ; in the centre of which was to be the 
figure of a man, meaning the Governor of Pennsylvania, 
and on each other side, five other figures, meaning the 
'I'cn Nations, mentioned by Teedyuscung. 

The King who was very irregular in his visits, as well 
us his discourses, bolted all of a sudden into the room, 
and with a high-toned voice spoke as follows, viz : 

Brother — I desire all that I have said, and you have 
said to one another, may be aright ; some speak in the 
dark ; do not let us do so ; let all be clear and known. 
What is the reason the Governor holds councils so close 
in his hands, and by candle light ? The Five Nations 
used to let him sit out of doors, like women; if the Five 
Nations still make him a woman, they must. But what 



46 HISTORY OF NORTHAMPTON COUNTY. 

is the reason the Governor makes him a woman, (mean- 
ing why he confers with Indians, without sending for 
him to be present, and hear what passes.) The Gover- 
nor answered, that he held councils on a hill — has no 
secrets — never sits in swamps, but speaks his mind 
openly to the world — what happens here, he lias a right 
to hear — the women were sent for to make a belt, not 
to council — the Six Nations may be wrong, they are not 
under his direction, and therefore, he is not answerable 
for tlieir conduct, if they have not treated the Delawares 
as men. 

The Chief thanked the Governor — seemed well 
pleased, and said, to-morrow he would speak more ; 
what he had to say was from the Six Nations. He that 
wont make peace, must die. A string. 

It was agreed in the morning, that the Governor 
should deliver the new belt, then in making, to Teedy- 
uscung, with a proper speech; that by two belts tied to- 
gether, Newcastle and Teedyuscung should be made 
joint agents for this government, and they be desired to 
consult together, to love one another, and act for the 
best — that the new black wampum and all the belts and 
strings should be given to Teedyuscung, and a private 
present made to him and his interpreter, Ben. 

Easton, Satuday, 31st day of July, 175C. 
(Same persons present as before.) 

Tlie names of the Indians present, at the treaty, were 
taken down by Mr. Edwards, and orderded to be en- 
tered. 

Mr. Weiser having enquired of Newcastle what nies- 
sages had been received by the Delawares at Diahoga, 
from the Six Nations, received the following informa- 
tion, which he took down in words that are the literal 
interpretation of what Newcastle said, viz : 

The large belt given by Teedyuscung, was sent to the 
Delawares by the council of the united Six Nations, with 
a message to the following import : — Cousins, the Dela- 
ware Indians — you will remember that you are our 
women, our forefathers made you so, and put a petty- 



HISTORY OF NORTHAMPTON COUNT T. 4; 

coat on you, and charged you to be true to us, and lie 
with no other men ; but of late you have sutfered the 
strmg that tied your petty-coat, to be cut loose by the 
Frencli, and you lay with them, and so become a com- 
mon bawd, in which you did very wrong, and deserved 
chastisement ; but notwithstanding this, we will still es- 
teem you; and as you have thrown ofl' the cover of your 
modesty, and become stark naked, which is a shame for 
a woman, we now desire you, that you may be a com- 
plete man — we advise you not to act as a man yet, but 
be first instructed by us, and do as we bid you, and you 
will become a noted man. 

Cousins — The English and French fight for our 
lands. Let us be strong and lay our hands to it, and 
defend it. In the mean time we lend our eyes and ears 
to us, and the English, our brethren, and you will live 
as well as we do. 

Tiien the Governor sent to Newcastle and Teedyus- 
cung. The new belt not being finished, he explained 
the proposed figures to them, and desired the women 
might finish it on rainy days, or restuig in their journey, 
which was pro^uised. 

Then the Governor spoke : 

Brothers Newcastle and Teedyuscung — Set an high 
value iipon this belt — it is the peace belt which Teedyus- 
cung dehvered in council. I very cheerfully lay hold 
of it. I will lay it up with the council belt, and declare it 
to you, I am most heartily disposed to effect the meaning 
of this belt — a speedy and honorable peace, and a return 
01 the oflices of love and friendship between the Indians 
and their brethren, the English. In return, I give you 
the belt now making, which you will consider as finished, 
and when done, show it every where, and make our 
dispositions, and the treatment you have met with, 
known to your own people, the Six Nations, and ah 
your allies. 

Here the Governor gave the new belt, as far as it was 
made, and all the wampum proposed for it, desiring, 
if it was not enough to complete it, that they would add 
more. 



■48 HISTORY OF NORTHAMPTON COUNTY. 

Then taking two belts, joined together in his hands, 
;ind addressing Newcastle and Teedyuscung, he declared 
them agents for the province, and gave them anthority 
to do the public business together. He recommended 
to them a mutual confidence, esteem and intimacy, and 
wished them success in their negociations. To which 
They answered, that they would be mutual good friends, 
and lay their hands together, and do every thing in their 
power to promote the weighty matters entrusted to them. 

Teedyuscung added. If this meeting should not 
serve him in every thing committed to his charge, or 
strings should be crooked, he would return to us and 
make them straight. What he says cotnes from his 
heart, and not from his hps. His heart and ours should 
be one, and be ture to one another; for if different 
iiquors are put into a cask and shaken, they will mix 
and come one. 

The Governor said he had written down what Tee- 
dyuscung had said on the belt delivered by him, and 
will keep it in his heart. It is very agreeable to him 
and the people of Pennsylvania. He will lay up the 
belt in the council chamber as a mark of his friendship, 
as he is appointed agent for Pennsylvania, with Captain 
Newcastle He puts into his hands all the belt and 
wampum he has here, to be made use of by him in the 
course of his negociations, as he may judge most proper, 
and most for the interest of the people of this province. 

Teedyuscung answered, that he might meet with dif- 
ficulties in transacting the important business committed 
to his charge ; but as he is now one of the council of 
vhc province of Pennsylvania, he assures liis brethren 
that he will exert himself faithfully, and to the utmost 
of his power, in the service ; and if he meets with 
crooked paths, he will endeavor to make them straight. 

The Governor then thanked Teedyuscung and New- 
castle for their undertaking to be agents for Pennsylva- 
nia, on this occasion ; desired that they might co-operate 
one with another, and consult together on the proper 
measures to be entered into by them, and delivered two 



HISTORY OP NORTHAMPTON COUNTY. 49 

belts tied together, as a sign or symbol of that harmony 
and unanimity that ought to subsist between them. 

Teedyuscung said, that he was pleased with being 
joined with Newcastle in public business; that he hoped 
matters would be lirought to a happy issue ; that he 
wished tiiere might be a firm Iriendship and lasting 
union between the Six Nations and the people of Peun" 
sylvania; and that they might be as one man. He fur- 
ther said, that he had a large family, and liaving a greai 
way to go, he had no means of carrying any more pro- 
visions than would serve him on the road — he therefore 
desired that he might be furnished with a horse, tbat ]w 
suight be enabled to carry provisions to his family. 
Whereupon the Governor promised to let him have a 
horse, and he promised to return him again, the next 
time he came down. 

The Governor then taking into his hands the belts, 
strings and bundles of new black wampum, gave them 
to Teedyuscung, and desired he would use them to the 
best advantage. 

The private presents were then given, and the Gover- 
nor and the council took their leaves. The council re- 
turning to Philadelphia, and the Governor going to New 
York, on an express received from Gov. Shirley. 



A list of Indians present at a treaty at Easton, 26th 
July, 1756: 

Capt. Newcastle, one of the Six Nations ; Teedyus- 
cung, King of the Delawares ; Tapascawen, counsellor ; 
Amos, Kesmitas, John Jacob, Teedyuscung's three sons ; 
Machmetawchchink, his son-in-law ; John Swalling, his 
grand son ; Christian, William, Josiah ; Baronet Bow- 
man, an Onandgo Indian ; Weenochwee, Mongust, 
Hatchchaan ; Benjamin, that speaks English ; John 
Pumpshirc, Joseph Mitchty, Thomas Storer, Josepli 
Pupy, Nicodemus, Zacharius, Christian ; Macharvehel-. 
ly, that lived some months at Easton. 

I have carefully perused the foregoing minutes, and 
do find them to give a true account of what passed be- 
D 



50 HISTORY OF NORTHAMPTON COUNTr. 

tween the Governor and the Indians, in my presence at 

Easton. 

CONR.VD WkISER. 

[Pro. Bee, p. 196 — 1*09.] 

November 8th, 1756, the Six Nations and the Dela- 
ware, Shawanees and Mohicans, represented by their 
principal chiefs, met Governor Denny with his comicil, 
commissioners and secretary, and a great numbei of 
citizens of Philadelphia, chietiy Quakers. 

" At three o'clock," says the record, the '' Governor 
jnarched from his lodgings to the place of conference, 
guarded by a party of Royal Americans in front and on 
tlie flanks, and a detachment of Colonel Weiser's pro- 
vincials, with colors flying, drums beating and music 
jiiaying — which order was always observed in going 
to the place of conference. Teedyuscung, who repre- 
sented four tribes, was the chief speaker on the part of 
the Indians. This conference lasted nhie days, and at 
the close a treaty of peace was concluded between the 
Shawanees and Delawares and the English."' 

Another coimcil was held in July, 1757. Another iu' 
the autumn of 1758, when about five hinidred Indians 
attended. Another was held in October, 1759-. The 
following is an extract of the records touching the trans- 
actions at this council. 

Council at Easto7u Octoher 11, 1759. 

The Indian Chiefs and Governor I3ernard and Gover- 
nor Denny in council. 

Mohawks, Oneidas, Onondagoes, Cayugas, Senecas, 
Tuscaroras, Nanticokes, Conoys, Tuteloes, Chugants, 
Delawares, Unamines, Munseya, Mohicans and Wap- 
pingers. 

Teedyufiainq. I called — the Indians liave come. 
Speak and they will hear. Sit and talk. I will sit, 
licar and see. 

Tokaaio, chief of the Cayugas. I speak for the 
Cayugas, Tuscaroras, Tuteloes, Nanticokes and Conoy.s. 
A road has been opened for us to this council fire. 



\ 



HISTORY OP NORTHAMPTON COUNTY. 51 

Blood has been spilt upon this road. By this belt I 
wipe away that blood. I take the tomahawk from ofl" 
yonr heads. 

Nichas then spoke. Teedyiiscung has said he is our 
chief. We know kim not. If he be our king, who 
made him so.-* Have you done it ? Say yes or no. 

T'agashata. We know not who made him our king. 

^'Issarandonguas. No such thing was ever said in 
our wigwam, that Teedyuscung was our king. 

Henry King. I speak for the Oneidas, Cayugas, 
Tuscaroras, Nanticokes and Conoys, We say boldly 
he is not our king. 

Governor Denny. You say that Teedyuscung said 
he was your king. He met us in the council fire at this 
place last year. We considered him your representa- 
tive, not your king. He said he was not your king. 
He called the Six Nations his uncles. 

Governor Bernard. I do not know that Teedyus- 
cung is a greater man than any of your chiefs. 

Teedyuscung nov/ spoke. You placed us at Shamo- 
kin and Wyoming. You have sold that land. I sii 
like a bird upon a bough. I look around and know not 
where I may take my rest. Let me come down and 
make that land my own, that I may have a liome for 
ever. 

Governor Denny. We will settle matters. 

Nichas spoke. Settle matters — those things are in 
the dark. Place them in the light. The proprietaries 
have our deeds — show them to us and we will know 
our marks. 

Crovemor Bernard then said he had something to say. 

Tagashata said. One Governor at a time. We will 
not hear both speak. 

A deed being produced, 

Nichas again spoke. This deed we remember. We 
sold the land. The land was our own. All things are 
right. 

A member of the Pennsylvania coimcil then observed: 
Teedyuscung asks us to make you owners of the lands 
at Wiomiuk and Shamoking. We have no power to 



52 HISTORY OF NORTHAMPTON COUNTY. 

sell those kinds. Your request shall be laid before the 
proprietary. 

Teedyuscung replied. Onas will grant our request. 
We trust in him. We know him. He loves justice. 
We are satisfied. 

"There was also another council held in 1761, con- 
cerning the Delaware settlement at Wyonung, in which 
Teedyuscung took an active and eloquent part." 



EASTON. 

Easton is situated at the confluence of the rivers Del- 
aware and Lehigh, and extends from the mouth of the 
latter, along the former, nearly half a mile, to the Bush- 
kill creek ; so that the town is bounded on three sidefc^ 
by Avater, For the advantages of position, as well as 
for its beauty of scenery, it is unsurpassed by any inland 
town in Pennsylvania. The societ}^ of the place, as to 
morals and intelligence, is certainly not surpassed by 
any town in the country. Industry and economy are 
the characteristics of all classes ; both professional and 
mechanical gentlemen, are an ornnment to the place. 
The dwellings are generally well built — their churches 
spacious, and a few of them costly. 

Easton was incoporated in 1789. The streets run east 
and west, north and south, and are well paved, with 
side walks. In the centre of the town is a fine square 
surrounding the Court House, which makes quite an 
imposing appearance, since it has received " a brushins;- 
up^^ and other additions. The number of dwellings is 
between seven and eight hundred. There are twelve 
taverns in the borough ; about twenty stores, several 
appothecaries, four founderies, viz : Iron and Brass 
foundery, owned by Aaron Miller, now carried on by the 
firm of Fisher & Knight, manufacturing principally gratev 
and fenders ; the Eagle foundery, carried on by Richard & 
Templin ; George W, Barnet's foundery, and Lewis A. 
Buckley's foundery. There are seven coach tnamj- 



HISTORY OP NORTHAMPTON COUNTY. 53 

factories, carried on respectively by Messrs. Stihvell, 
Seip, Steckel, Well", Dudiy, Ludvvig and Godown. 

The borougli contains, in addition to the usual county 
buildings, a German Reformed, two Lutheran, Presby- 
terian, Episcopal, Catholic and JNlethodist churches ; also 
a Jews' Synagogue. The Baptists are about erecting 
one. Common .schools and Sabbath schools are well 
attended. 

By an act of Assembly, March 9th, 1826, a college 
was established, under the title of La Fayette College. 
This will be noticed in the chapter '■'■on Educafiony 
A library was formed in 1811. containing about three 
tliousand volumes, witji which is connected an extensive 
cabinet of minerals. There are several news papers pub- 
lished here, viz : The Easton Sentinel, by James A. 
Dunlap ; Unabhaengiger Democrat, by the same gen- 
tlentau ; The Democrat & Argus, by W, A. Hutter ; 
Easton Standard, by Mr. Sanders; The Whig & Journal, 
by Mr. Hetrick: and a German paper, by Mr. H. Sen- 
scman. The town is abundantly supplied with water, 
oonvyed in iron pipes from a spring about a mile from 
the borough. There are two bridges across the Bushkill, 
one across the Delaware, and one across the Lehigh, 
Formerly there was a chain bridge across the Lehigh, ' 
suspended on four chains, hanging in two loops and two 
half loops, having two pass ways for teams, and a foot 
walk between, which was guarded by hand railings. 
This one was swept away by the freshet of 1841. The 
town and vicinity sustained considerable injury from 
freshets in November, 1840, and January, 1841, as ap- 
pears from the following extracts : 

High Water — Loss of Property, — -The rain which 
fell in torrents on Thursday last, caused our streams to 
rise very much. The Lehigh, which usually rises very 
rapidly, came thundering down with her torrents from 
tributaries among the mountains. There was considera- 
ble damage done at the mouth, where the new dam is 
constructing. The abutment of the dam, which is but 
partly finished, was overflowed, the water washing 
away the bank alongside. 



54 HISTORY OF KORTHAMPTOItf COUNTV. 

The large fire-proof four story brick house, immedi- 
ately below the dam, was entirely demolished, being un- 
dermined by the water. It fell with a heavy crash into 
the river. The water by this time had got sufficient 
head to endanger the whole bank, which it was fast 
midermining. So great was the apprehension, that the 
families along the river removed all their goods, expect- 
ing that their dwellings would be swept away. 

The excavation along the bank extended to within ;t 
{ew feet of some of the dwellings, taking away the 
whole street for about twenty yards. There was, how- 
ever, no damage done to any other property but tiie 
store house. 

The scene on Friday evening was truly wild — the 
roaring and gushing of the waters, the fires that were 
kindled to light the workmen, the groups of persons 
collected together at different points, altogether presented 
a grand and majestic spectacle. 

There is but little damage done to the dam. The 
principal loss sustained, is the destrnction of the store 
house, and washing away of the street, which Avill re- 
quire a vast amount of filling in and slope wall, at a 
heavy expense, to place it in proper order. — Whig and 
Journal, Nov. 4, 1S40. 

Freshet. — Great destruction of property, &c. on the 
Lehigh and Delaware rivers, and inundation of the 
borough of Easton. 

As chroniclers of passing events, it becomes our pain- 
ful duty to record a scene of destruction and devastation, 
such as never was before witnessed in this section of 
country. The late excessix'^e rains, carrymg with it the 
snow, which had covered the ground, caused our streams 
to rise beyon i all precedent. They came careering down 
whh awful rapidity, on the morning of the 8th instant, 
producing Avaste and ruin on every side, bearing on their 
angry waters every kind of property — houses, barns, 
store-houses, fences, stacks of grain, and furniture of alJ 
descriptions. 

The Lehigh river, one of the most unruly and turbu- 
lent of streams, i-as caused the greatest amount of darn- 



HISTORY OF NORTHAMPTON COUNTY. 55 

nge. As far as heard from, not a bridge is left spanned 
across it. The bridges at Stoddartsville, Lehighton, 
Siegfried's, iiiery's, Allentown, Bethlehem, Freeman's, 
Easton — all of them swept clean away. The beautiful 
bridge at our borough, went about four o'clock in the 
morning of the Sth. It breasted the flood most gallantly, 
for hoiirs, but at last was obliged to yield, and gracefully 
parting, floated off upon the angry waters that destroyed. 

The flats, below South Easton, between the river 
and the canal, containing the Collector's office of the 
'I^shigh Coal and Navigation Company, and a small vil- 
lage, were so completely inimdated as to hide the build- 
ings — all but the store-house were carried ofl'. The 
lower part of WHliamsjiort is almost destroyed — the 
o.anal basin apparently demolished — the Collector's office 
of the Delaware division moved off its foundation — the 
way-lock stript of its covering, and both sides of the 
river here, present but one scene of ruin. 

The dwellings, in the section of our borough, adjacent 
to the Lehigh, as far up as Lehigh street, were inim- 
dated in their lower stories, destroying their furniture, 
&c., the occupants having only sufficient time to save 
themselves. Some af the dwellings were considerably 
injured by the drift wood, the end of one being torn out 
and otherwise damaged, and leaving all in a nearly 
untenantable condition. We have seen a saw-log, on a ' 
porch, about fifty yards from the river. The houses, all 
along Water street, were overflowed, leaving them in a 
most forbidding condition. 

The Delaware, usually so remarkable for its mildness, 
as to be called the "silvery Delaware," also assumed a 
new character, though not so destructive above the 
Lehigh,as that river, did,notwithstanding,much damage. 
It is estimated that it was thirty-five feet above low 
water mark, six feet higher than has ever been heard of 
before. The destruction of the bridge across it was 
looked for during the whole of the 8th, but it withstood 
the flood, though much injured and torn. Report has 
\^, that below this, every other bridge on the Delaware 
is gone. Coming, as this flood has done, in the most 



56 HISTORY OP NORTHAMPTON COUNTY. 

inclement part of the season, the distress produced will 
be great. It has fallen upon many who are in no way 
able to bear it. The dwellings, overflowed, were mostly 
occupied by the poorest of our citizens, who have lost 
their all. We are happy to say, that the usual kind and 
charitable feeling of our townsmen are in exercise, and 
all that can possibly be done, is done to alleviate the 
distresses of the suft'erers. 

As yet, we know of no loss of life. Mr. Lowry and 
son, from Coleman's dam, were both swept away. The 
father jumped upon a log, and while passing just above 
here, before day, was seen, when one of ova' citizens, 
John Beam, at the risk of his own life, pushed out in 
his boat and brought him safe to shore. This act of 
intrepidity, to save a fellow being, deserves, and has 
secured to Mr. Beam, unqualified praise. The son, it 
is said, was taken up about twelve miles below, still 
alive. 

The damage done to individuals, it is impossible to- 
correctly estimate. The coal and wood yards, next the 
river, have suffered considerably. The Lehigh Trans- 
portation Company have lost six or seven of their large 
deck boats. The loss of tlie Mauch Chunk Company 
must be very considerable. We understand that one 
lumdrcd and fifty of their scows were counted as they 
passed down the river. 

In addition to the bridges along the Lehigh, the 
destruction of property was very great. The large 
store house, at the north abutment of Coleman's dam, 
Avas undermined, and fell in. The lock ai fender's house, 
at the same place, met a similar fate. The locks and 
sluices on tlie south side of the dam, are all carried 
away — the Lehigh having forced a channel around the 
dam. 

At Bethlehem, the loss of private property is very 
gi*eat, in addition to the destruction of the venerable 
old bridge, which had stood the surges of the Lehigh 
for nearly a century, and whose charter bears an earlier 
date than any other bridge company in the state. The 
loss on the low lauds, below the bridge, is very exten,- 



HISTORY OF NORTHAMPTON COUNTV. Oi 

sive ; but the hotel and other substantial buildings, were 
miraculously preserved. 

At AUentown, the sweep of the flood over the low- 
lands is represented as having been awful. Of that 
substantial bridge, erected but a few years ago, not even 
the piers and abutments remain. This company has 
been peculiarly unfortunate; but a few years ago, they 
lost a bridge by fire, and soon after another, in part, by 
a freshet. The splendid stone bridge, over the Jordan, 
erected a few years ago, at a cost of eiglit or ten thousand 
dollars, we are pleased to learn, sustained but little 
damage. 

The company's dam, at this place, is not, as was 
reported, carried away; but the canal and locks, imme- 
diately below, are all destroyed. The destruction of 
private property, consisting of store houses, coal anc( 
wood yards, basins, boats, &c. at this place, is complete. 

At Biery's bridge, one span, with the abutments and 
pier, are miinjured, and the company hope to have it 
repaired and open to the public in ten or fifteen days. 
Much private property was also carried away at this 
point. 

The havoc at the Lehi2;h Water Gap, as will be sup- 
posed, from its peculiar location, was very great. The 
county bridge, which was finished but a few months 
ago, was raised from its foundation, and carried down 
the stream, striking the hotel of our friend Craig, but 
without doing much damage, passed on and crushed the 
building in which he kept an extensive store, and rush- 
ing on, there was nothing left of the valuable improve^ 
ments, coal, lumber, plaster and other property, immedi- 
ately below. The hotel was in great danger, and the 
family and other inmates were taken out with a boat, iu 
the night, and were obliged to remain in the mountain 
until the next morning. 

The loss at the Clarissa iron works, above this point, 
is very heavy — the greater part of the valuable improve- 
ments of Joseph J. Albright, are in ruins. 

At Parryville, Weissport, Mauch Chunk, and up llio 



58 HISTORY OF NORTHAMPTON COUNTY. 

Lehigh, the same devastation prevailed — many houses 
ynd Other vahiable property came down the river. 

The state works along the Delaware and the Lehigh 
Company's improvements, on the Lehigh, are damaged 
to a great extent. At many places no traces of the 
canal are left, the current having swept them away to low 
water mark, for a great distance ; and all along the line 
Shey are more or less injured. January 8, 1811. 



CHAPTEJl VIII. 

TOPOGRAPHY OF TOWNSHIPS. 

Upper Mount Bethel township is bounded on the 
north, by Monroe county; east, by the Delaware river; 
on the south and west, by Lower Mount Bethel tow'n- 
ship. The surface is hilly and rolling; soil, principally 
limestone; well cultivated and very productive. It is 
watered by Cobuss' creek, a small stream that rises 
within the township, and flowing seven miles eastward, 
falls into the Delaware river, abont three miles below 
\h6 Water Gap. There are six Lrist and six saw mills; 
in it. 

Extensive slate quarries have been opened in this 
township, near the Delaware, where roofing slate, of a 
superior quality, is obtained, in large quantities, and a 
manufactory of school slates, under the auspices of the 
Hon. James M. Porter, the proprietor, has been estab- 
lished, in which, by the aid of ingenious machinery, 
slates, of a peculiar neatness and excellence, are produced, 
at a very moderate price. 

There are several villages in this township. Slate 
Fort, near the Delaware Water Gap, consisting of sonic 
six or eight dwellings, occupied by persons at work, at 
Mr. Porter's slate quarries and manufactory. 

Centreville is a post village, sixteen miles from 
Easton; it contains twenty dwellings, one store, one 
tavern and a foundry. Near the village is a splendid 
edifice, being a German Reformed church. The village* 
is pleasantly situated. 

Williamshurg is a post village, on the main road from 
Easton to the Delaware Water Gap, about twenty miles 
from Easton, and five from the Gap. This place was 
laid out by William Lander, some twenty -five or thirty 
years ago. It contains about forty-five dwellings, on.e 
store, one tavern, two churches, an English Presbyterian 



60 HISTORV or NORTHAMPTON COUNTY. 

cliurcli, erected of brick, in 1836 ; and a Methodist 
church, a frame building, erected in 1835; and a fine 
brick academy, built in 1S31, but now occupied by i\ 
common school — population about two hundred and 
seventy-five. 

The earliest settler here was a Mr. Forsman — among 
tlie other early settlers were Frutchy, lirodt, Oyer, 
Krotzer and Stein. 

DUfs Ferry is between Slate Port and Williamsburar, 
<">pposite Columbia, in New Jersey. There is a tavern 
here in Vvdiich a post oflice is kept. 

The population of this township in 1820, was 2,182 ; 
in 1830, 2,241 ; 1840, 2,643. The county rates and 
levies for 1844, on professions, was $83,693; on real 
estate, horses and cattle, $751,525 ; state tax, $1,859 47. 
The number of taxables, 630. 

Lower Mount Bethel toivnship is bounded on the 
north b)' Monroe county, east by Upper Mount Bethel, 
south by Forks township and the Delaware river, and 
west by Plainfield township. The surface is partly 
liilly, and some portions of it level. A small proportion 
is limestone soil, but the greater part is gravel. It is 
])retty well watered by Richmond creek, or Oquirton, 
JMartin's and Muddy creeks. The Oquirton affords 
some mill power. Martin's creek rises at the foot of the 
Blue mountain, and runing a south-western course, 
empties into the Delaware some fifteen or twenty miles 
above Easton. It affords several excellent mill seats. 
There are nine grist and eight saw mills in this town- 
ship. There is a post office at Martin's creek in this 
township, and near it, two splendid churches, the one an 
l^^nglish Presbyterian, the other a German Reformed 
and Lutheran ; both within a mile of the Delaware river. 
There are several small villages in the township. 

Richmond, a post village, is the principal one ; it is 
near the head of Oquirton, or Richmond's creek. It is 
on the main road from Easton to the Delaware Water 
Gap, fourteen miles from the former, and eleven from 
tlie latter — also eleven miles from the Wind Gap. It 



HISTORY OF NORTHAMPTON COUNTY. 61 

contains between thirty and forty dwellings, two stores, 
two taverns, a grist mill, a distillery and an excellent tan- 
nery. It was laid ont many years ago. The popula- 
tion is between two and three hundred. 

Flatjield, on Martin's creek, is the name given to an 
irregularly built village, laid out by William McCall, 
about twenty years ago. Here are eight or ten dwell- 
ings, two mills and an extensive tannery. A bridge 
across Martin's creek here. 

The population of the township in 1820, was 2,472 ; 
1S30, 2,666; 1840,2,957; taxables in 1844, Q59. County 
rates a levies, 1844, on professions, $95,327 ; real estate, 
horses and cattle, ^5865,780. Amount of state tax, 
$2 mi 11. 

allien township is bounded on the north by Lehigh 
and Monroe townships, on the east by Upper and Lower 
Nazareth townships, on the south by Hanover and 
Bethlehem townships, and on the west by the Lehigh 
river, which separates it from Lehigh county. The sur- 
face is generally level — soil, lime stone, and well im- 
proved. It is well watered, l^esides the Lehigh, which 
is its western boundary, the Hockendoque, or Hockyon- 
doque and Caladaque creeks are considerable streams. 
The Hockendoque rises at the base of the Kittatinny 
mountain, near Smith's Gap, running a south-western 
course, passing Kernsville, or Petersville, and Kriders- 
ville, empties into the Lehigh river, ten or eleven miles 
below the Lehigh Water Gap. It has a number of flour- 
ing and grist mills on it. Caladaque creek, is a small 
stream, with three or four mills on it. It springs in this 
township, and falls into the Lehigh near Biery'sville, 
about two miles below the mouth of the Hockendoque. 

This township was originally settled by immigrants 
from the north of Ireland, between the years 1728 and 
1 733. It appears that WilUam Craig and Thomas Craig 
were the principal settlers. Their residence, according 
to the Rev. Webster's statement, in his notes on the 
early history of Mien township, was about four miles 
from Bath, not tar from where tiie Presbyterian church. 



62 HISTORY OF NORTHAMPTON COUNTY. 

in this township, now stands. " Others — men of proper- 
ty, influence and rehgioiis character, were John Rawls- 
ton, Robert Walker, John McNair, John Plays, James 
King, Gabriel King, his only son, emin^t for piety ; Ar- 
thtir Lattimore, Hugh Wilson, William Young, George 
Gibson, Robert Gibson, Andrew Mann, James Riddle, 
John Boyd, Widow Mary Dobbin, Nagle Gray and 
Thomas Armstrong, wlio afterwards removed to Fogg's 
Manor." 

This was, and is still known, as the Irish Settlemeni. 
It extends from tlie i)ry Lands up to Biery's bridge. 
During the French and Indian war, in 1755 and 1756, 
several massacres were committed in this settlement, and 
iiearly all fled to Bethlehem. Dr. Franklin, in a letter to 
Governor Morris, dated at Bethlehem, January 14, 1756, 
writes : " As we drew near this place, we met a num- 
l-er of wagons, and many people moving ofl' with their 
effects and families from the Irish Seti/cmcnf and 
Lehigh township, being terrified by the defeat of Hay's 
company, and the burnings and murders committed in 
the townships on New Years day. We found this place 
filled with refugees ; the workmen's shops, even the cel- 
lars, being crowded with women and children, and we 
learned that Lehigh towmship was almost entirely aban- 
doned by the inhabitants. Soon after my arrival here, 
the principal people of the Irish Settlement, as Wilson, 
Cider Craig, and others, came to me, and demanded an 
additon of thirty men to Craig's company, or threatened 
ihey would immediately, one and all, leave their country 
to the enemy."* 

A few days afterwards, the 16th January, 1756, 
Franklin stopped at the house of Mr, Hays. " We left 
ISethlehem," says Franklin,t "the 16th inst. with 
Foulk's company, forty-six men, the detachment of Mr. 
LaughUn's twenty, and seven wagons laden with stores 
and provisions. We got tliat night to Hays' quarters, 
where Wayne's company johied us from Nazareth. 

•Provincial Records for 1756. 

f Letter to Gov. Monis, dulcd Fort Allen, at Grea<Ien Hutton, January 
2«, 1756. 



HISTORY OF NORTHAMPTON COUNTS'. 63 

The next day wc niarcbed cautiously through the Gap 
of the inountahi, a very dangerous pass, and got to Up- 
Unger's, but twenty-one miles from Bethlehem." 

A number of families were murdered in and near tlie 
Irish Settlement, [See White Hall township, Lehigli 
county.] The wife of Hugh Horner, Jane Horner, was 
murdered by the Indians, under circumstances of great 
cruelty, the 8tli of October, 1763. At the same time 
'• the house of John Stinton, about eight miles from 
Bethleliem, was assailed by the Indians, at which was 
Captahi Wetherolt, with a party belonging to Fort Allen, 
The Captain designed early in the morning to proceed 
for the Fort, ordered a servant out to get his horse ready, 
who was immediately shot down by the enemy ; upon 
which the Captain, going to the door, was also mortally 
wounded, and a sergeant, who attempted to draw the 
Captahi in, was also dangerously Imri. The lieutenant 
then advanced, when an Indiau jumping onthe bodies 
of the two others, presented a loaded pistol to his 
breast, which he putting aside, it went off over his 
shoulder, whereby he got the Indian out of the house 
and shut the door. The Indian then went round to a 
window, and as Stinton was getting out of bed, shot 
hhn : but rushingfrom the house, he was able to run a 
mile before he dropped dead. His wife and two children 
ran into the cellar. Thej'' were fired upon three times, 
but escaped uninjured. Captain Wetherolt, notwith- 
.*;tanding his wound, crawled to a window, where he 
Icilled one of the Indians, who were setting fire to the 
house. The others then ran off, bearing with them 
their dead companion. Captain Wetherolt died soon 
after."* 

There are several churches in this township, Lutheran 
and German Reformed, and English Presbyterian. There 
are also several villages in it. 

Bath, named after Batli in England, by the Irish 
settlers here, who laid it out some years before the Revo- 
lution of -'76. It is a post village, on Ihe Monockacey 

♦Gordon's His. of Pa. Appendix, p. 6C3, 624, 



64 HISTORY OF NORTHAMPTON COUNTY. 

creek, eleven miles from Easton, ten from Allentown, 
five from Nazareth and eight from Bethlehem — is very 
handsomely situated — contains hetween fifty and sixty 
dwellings, many of them of brick — two taverns, three 
stores, one church, erected in IS 34, held in common by 
the Lutherans and German Reformed — two schools, one 
for males and one for females. There are two mills 
contiguous 10 it — population about two hundred and 
fifty. Years ago the Land Office had been at Bath, 
George Palmer was Surveyor General many years — he 
hes buried in Allentownship grave yard.* 

Prior to 1790, the English Presbyterians had erected 
a large stone academy on Monockacey creek, a mile from 
Bath, and Rev. Thomas Picton was the principal. The 
house is now used by the congregation for divine wor- 
ship. 

Kreidersville, a post village, was laid out by Conrad 
Kreider, between thirty and fortjr years ago ; it is on 
the main road from Bethlehem to Berwick ; it contains 
fifteen or sixteen dwellings, one store, one tavern, a very 
splendid house, erected by George Weaver, in 1840. 
One mile from the village is "Zio?i's A7rc//e," belonging 
to the German Reformed and Lutherans. There is also 
a grist mill here, turned by the Hockendoque creek, and 
a slate quarry, near this village, where roofing slate has 
been formerly procured. On the farm of Joseph Hagen- 
bach there is also a good quality of roofing slate. 

Hauertown, or Howertown, laid out by Mr. Hauer. 
is on the road from Bethlehem to Maucli Chunk — con- 
tains eight dwellings, one tavern and a school house. 
Near it is a German Reformed and Lutheran churcli. 

Weaversburg, a post village, on the road from Allen- 
town to Bath, contains twelve dwellings, one store, one 
tannery, one mill on the Co//asavque,oi Colesoque creek. 

Centreville or Nelighsvilh, consists of five dwellings, 
an English Presbyterian church and a grist mill. The 
population of this township, in 1820, was 1,847; in 1830, 
2,106; 1840,2,547. Taxables in 1844, 612. County 

* Kev'd Webster. 



HISTORr OP NORTHAMPTON COUNTY. 65 

rates and levies, on professions, ^^98,173. On real estate, 
horses and cattle, i^ 1,050,380. Amount of state tax, 
^2,440 56. 

Plainjield township is bounded on the north, by 
Monroe county ; on the east, by Lower Mount Bethel ; 
on the south, by Forks township ; on the west, by Bush- 
kill. The surface generally level, except along the Blue 
mountain; soil principally gravel, but well improved. 
The turnpike road, from Easton to Berwick, passes 
through this township, by way of the Wind Gap. During 
the French and Indian war, the inhabitants of this tov\^n- 
ship, in common with others, had fled from their homes, 
and taken refuge at, and in the vicinity of Nazareth. 

In 1779, General Sullivan, with his army, marched 
from Easton, through this township, on to Wyoming. 
The army consisted of a number of regiments, as appears 
from Sullivan's Journal. "Easton, June 13, 1779, three 
soldiers, belonging to the Pennsylvania regiment, com- 
manded by Col. Hubley, were executed for murdering 
an inhabitant of that place. The whole of the troops 
on the ground were present at this melancholy occasion." 

June 14 — Was fired a feu de joie, at evening, on 
•account of a victory obtained over the enemy in South 
Carolina. « * * * j^nie 18 — The whole of 
the aforementioned troops warmed, by firing of a can- 
non; marched together, with the pack-horses and bag- 
gage wagons, at four o^clock in the morning, on their 
way to Wyoming. The road, for this day's march, was 
good ; encamped at Ilelliard's ( Heller's) tavern, distant 
eleven miles from Easton. June 19 — Marched to Lar- 
ney's ( Larner's) tavern, on Pokanose ( Pocano) point.* 

This township is watered by the Bushkill creek, which 
rises near the Wind Gap, at the foot of the mountain, 
and rumiing a south-east course, falls into the Delaware, 
about one hundred rods above the mouth of the Lehigh. 
It is an excellent mill stream. There are three grist 
mills and four saw mills in this township. There are 
several small villages in it. 

* Sullivan's Journal of Marches. 
E 



6S HISTORY OF NORTHAMPTON COUNTY. 

Belleville, consisting of five dwellings and one tavern. 

IVardslmrg, on the road from Easton to the Wind 
Gap, eight miles from the former, and four from the lat- 
ter, consists of eight dwellings, one store and several 
meclianics* shops. Near it i& a Lutheran German Re- 
formed church, on the left bank of the Bushkill ereek. 

Johnsonville, contiguous to Wardsburg, on the same 
road, consists of fourteen dwellings and one tavern. 

The population of the township, hi 182G, was 1,127; 
in 1830, 1,285 ; in 1840, 1,508. Taxables, in 1844, 371. 
County rates and levies, $23,353; real estate, horses and 
cattle,'$,3 13,445 ; amount of state tax, $707,90. 

Lehigh tamnship is bounded on the north, hy Carbon 
county ; on the east, by Moore township ; on the south, 
by Allen township ; on the west, by the Lehigh river, 
which seperates it from Lehigh county. The surface is 
partly hilly and partly level; soil, limestone and a great 
proportion gravel, but considerably improved. As the 
Blue mountain forms the northerii boundry, and the 
Lehigh entering it on the west of that part, as well as 
towards the eastern line, by the Little Gap, througli 
which a road leads to Berlinville, is considerably broken. 
This townsliip is pretty well watered by the Lehigh 
river and the Indian creek, a tributary to the Hocken- 
doque. There are six grist mills and three saw mills 
in it. 

This township was wholly abandoned by the inhabi- 
tants of it, some time in 1753 and 1756 ; many of them 
fled to Bethlehem and Nazareth, to seek refuge and 
protection against the cruel and barbai^ous incursions 
and depredations of the Indian savages. Benjamin 
Franklin, on his way from Bethlehem to Griaden Hul- 
ters, passed through this township in .January, 3756 ; he 
was accompanied by several companies, under the com- 
mand of Foulk, M'Laughlin and Wayne. 

The southern part of this township embraces a portion 
of country formerly known as " Indian Land^' Tliere 
are one or two small villages in it. 

Berlinville, or Lehighville, is on the road from Easton 



HISTORY OP NORTHAMPTON COUNTY. 67 

to Mauch Chunk, twenty-two miles from the former, 
and fourteen from the latter. It consists of a cluster of 
sixteen dwellings, one store and one tavern. It is cen- 
trally situated in the township, and two miles from the 
Water Gap. 

Ckerryville, so called, from Cherry Row Lane, con- 
sisting of one hundred trees, is twenty miles from Easton, 
and five from the Water Gap ; contains six dwellings, 
one commodious and large public house. About a mile 
west of it is the well known " Indian Kirch'^ or St. 
Paulus Kirch, gegruendet 1772, Neuerbanet 1833; a 
spacious rough-cast building. It belongs to the German 
Reformed and Lutherans. 

The population of this township, in 1820, was 1,550 ; 
in 1830, 1,659; in 1840, 2,049. Taxables, in 1844, 
496. County rates and levies on professions, $66,678 ; 
on real estate, horses and cattle, $317,775. Amount of 
state tax, $777 37. 

Moore township is bounded on the north, by Carbon 
and Monroe counties ; east, by Bushkill township ; south, 
by Allen and Upper Nazareth; and west, by Lehigh 
township. The surface is hilly and rolling; gravel soil, 
but pretty well improved and tolerably fertile. It is 
well watered by the sources of Manockacey and Hock- 
€ndocque creeks. The former of these streams rises in 
this township, and running southward, falls into the 
Lehigh river at Bethlehem. This is a dehghtful stream, 
and in its course, affords superior mill-seats — a number 
of fine mills are on it. There are five grist mills, five 
saw mills and two fulling mills in this township. There 
are two small villages in it. 

Kernsville, or Petersville, situated between the forks 
of the Hockendocque, in the south-west angle of the 
township, consisting of seven dwellings, two stores and 
a grist mill. 

Kleckncrsville, a post village, four miles north of Bath, 
-consisting of several dwellings, one store and one taveni. 
The country around is gravel soil, but well improved. 

The population, in 1820, was 1,645; 1830, 1,S53; 



68 HISTORY OF NORTHAMPTON COUNTY. 

1840,2,389. Taxables, in 1844, 606. County rates and 
levies on professions, $65,793; on real estate, horses and 
cattle, {!i<406,!210. Amount of state tax, $932 81. 

Saucon township is bounded on the north, by the 
Lehigh river; east, by Williams township; south-eayt, 
by Bucks county; soulh-wcst, by Saucon township, in 
Lehigh county; and west, by "Salisbury, in Lehigh 
county. The surllice of the country is hilly; the soil is 
limestone and gravel, and generally well improved. It 
is well watered by the Lehigh river, Saucon creek and 
its tributaries. The Saucon creek rises in Upper Mil- 
forcj township, Lehigh county; running in a north-eastern 
direction, it cinpties into the Lehigh river, about ,four 
miles below Bethlehem. It is a fine mill stream; there 
are several mills on it., 

Hellerstown is quite a brisk post village, situated on 
the south side of Saucon creek, aboiit four miles south- 
east of Bethlehem. It contains twenty-two dwellings, 
three taverns, three stores and one grist mill. There is 
also a large church near it, belonging to the Lutheran 
and German Reformed. From its peculiar situation the 
inhabitants w^ere measurably secure against the mcur- 
sions from the Indians, during the French and Indian 
war. 

The population of this township, in 1820, was 2,208 ; 
in 1830, 2,308 ; in 1840, 2,710. The number of taxabics, 
in 1844, 603. County rates and levies on professions, 
$95,526; on real estate, horses and cattle, $1,101,725. 
State tax, ^6,672 67. 

Hanover township is a very small township. Its 
greatest length is only two miles and a half, and greatest 
width two miles. It is bounded on the north by Alie.a 
township, on the east and south by Lehigh county, and 
on the south-west by Bethlehem township. Surface 
quite level, the soil limestone and well improved. The 
Monockacey creek, which runs along the southern boun- 
dary of it, drains the township. Its population in 1820, 
was 358 ; in 1830, 348 ; in 1840, 382 ; and its taxables 



HISTORY OF NORTHAMPTON COUNTY. 69 

only 65. The early history of this township, and the 
sutieriiigs of its inhabitants were identified with those of 
Bethlehem township, and the adjoining townships — to 
whicli the reader is referred. The taxbles of 1844, 
were 90. County rates and levies on professions, $16.- 
213: real estate, horses and cattle, ^278,640. Amount 
of state tax, $615 75. 

JVilUams township is bounded on the north by the 
Lehigh river, east by the Delaware river, south by 
Bucks and Lehigh counties, and on the west by Saucon 
township. Nearly the whole surface is covered by the 
Lehigh hills, or South mountain, which abound in iron 
ore of various kinds. Magnetic iron ore is found in 
several places on the hills, associated with the primary 
rocks. On the banks of the Lehigh, a few hundred 
yards below South Easton, a mine of ore has been late- 
ly opened. The ore found in this township is of the 
best quality, a large quantity of which is used at the 
Glendon Iron J-Fo?'/cs. where sixty tons of pig iron are 
v/eekly manufactured. 

The soil of this township is limestone and gravel. It 
is rich, well cultivated, and very productive of wheat, 
corn and grass. The township is drained by Fraj'^'s 
Run, which, by its tributaries, receives the waters from 
the north and the south. There are three grist mills 
and one saw mill in the township, besides those in 
South Easton. 

South Easton, a borough, is on the right bank of 
tlie Lehigh river, about half a mile above the borough 
of Easton. It was laid out and established by the Le- 
high Navigation Company, and bids fair of becoming a 
great manufacturing place. Many of the houses are 
brick, and it presents a neat and brisk appearance. The 
present population is about eight hundred. There are 
in it, three regular stores, besides several shops, a Metho- 
dist church, and Union churchy in which all orthodox 
divines are allowed to preach. At present it is occupied 
as a school house. The inhabitants are a ^^ strictly 
church-going people.^' Business, as it should be, of all 



70 HISTORY OF NORTHAMPTON COUNTY- 

kinds is suspend on the Christian Sabbath. Canal boats 
being reckoned public, pass on, up and down, seven days 
in the week ! ! Tliere are two grist mills, two saw mills, 
and several factories in operation. 

Here is an extensive cotton factory, originally started 
in 1836, by Messrs. Swift & Breck, at an expense of 
|i70,000. About a year ago Edward Quinn, the present 
proprietor, commenced to carry on the factory ; having 
expended within the past year ^7,000 in putting it into 
perfect trim. Mr. Quinn gives employment to about 
ninety hands — has in operation 5,000 spindles, in spin- 
ning cotton yarn — producing monthly 20,000 pounds of 
spun yarn. He expects to produce shortly 1,000 
pounds daily. All this yarn is assigned to Messrs. 
Woodward & Brinckel, of Philadelphia. An extensive 
machine shop is connected with the factory. 

The Lehigh Works, or rolling mill, of considerable 
magnitude, owned by Messrs. Rodenbough, Stewart & 
Co., is also in successful operation, giving employment 
to fifty hands, day and night. Wire of different threads 
or filaments, and nails of every kind, are produced in 
great quantities. The principal part of the metal used, 
is brought from Juniata county. 

South Easton Furnace or Foundery, owned by 
Frederick Gooddell, of Massachusetts, and managed by 
George Freeborn, is also in successfuU operation. The 
original cost of it was ^20,000 — put in o})eration hi 
May, 1844. Here employment is given to fifty hands, 
engaged in various kinds of castings, such as grates, 
fenders, flat-irons. The gross, estimated value for 1844, 
will be about ^§75,000. Shortly there will be an article 
manufactured here (at present imported) to supply the 
American demand, to at least ^7.5,000 during next year. 
This small item will be in favor of balance of trade, to 
be put down on " our side oj accounts.''''* 

A few years ago, Messrs. James M. Porter & Broad- 
meadow, established a still manufactory. It was un- 

*Mr. Freeborn named the article to the compiler, but with the re- 
quest that it should not be made public now. It is therefore nol 
.specified. " Something hangs by, and turns on it." 



HISTORY OF NORTHAMPTON COUNTY. 71 

successfully in operation — it failed. It is contemplated 
shortly to start a blast furnace here. 

There is also an extensive building here, in which the 
manufacturing of rifles is carried on. 

Immediately above the borough of South Easton, are 
the Glewdon Iren IVorks, owned by Charles Jackson, 
Jr., of Boston, managed by Mr. Firmston and his clerk, 
Mr. E. Rockweli. One furnace has been in successful 
operation for some lime ; using for smelting, anthracite 
coal exclusively. The iron ore used here, is red, brown 
and black oxide of iron, obtained in Williams township. 
The furnace now in operation produces ten tons of pig 
iron daily. There is another siack or furnace, building, 
which, when completed, it is believed, will produce 
daily fifteen tons of pig metal. The greatest success 
has attended the trial inade, on the most extensive scale, 
in reducing iron ore with anthracite coal. It is now 
well settled, that this kind of coal will answer exceeding- 
ly well in smeltireg ore. 

Here is also a small hamlet, consisting of eight dwell- 
ings- 

WUIiamsport is a small village, on the right bank of 
the Delaware, immediately below the mouth of the Le- 
high river, hard by tlie base of a high limestone bluff', 
the rocks of which nearly overhang the town. It con- 
sists of some fifteen or more ordinary buildings, princi- 
pally one storjr high. It contains two taverns. It was 
completely inundated by the January freshet of 1841. 

The population of the township in 1820, was 1,590 ; 
in 1830, 2,707 ; in 1840, exclusive of South Easton, 
i.,937. Taxables in 1844, 437. County rates and levies 
on professions, S72,360 ; on real estate, horses and cattle, 
$493,005. Amountof state tax, $1,172 39. The taxa- 
bles in South Easton, in 1844, were 191, County rates 
and levies on professions, $31,513; on real estate, horses 
and cattle, $175,535; state tax, $442 39s 

Bushkill township is bounded on the north by Mon- 
roe county, east by Plainfield township, south by Upper 
Nazareth township, and west by Moore township. The 



72 HISTORY OF NORTHAMPTON COUNTT. 

surface of the country is rather thin; the soil principally 
of a white gravel with some red shale, pale and olive 
slate. Some parts of it have been rendered very pro- 
ductive. By a proper course of culture, it may still be 
much improved. The Bushklll, or as it was first 
known, " The Lehieton,^' which rises near the Wind 
Gap, at the foot of the Blue mountain, traverses this 
township in a south western direction, and in its course 
through the township, receives several small s-treams. 
There are four grist mills, and four saw mills in it. 

The inhabitants of this township, with otliers near the 
Gap, were greatly exposed to the depredations of the 
Indians, from 1754 to 1763. Many of them fled io 
Nazareth, took protection there under the Brethren- 
which place had been for some time in 1755, and 1756". 
under the protection of forces commanded by Captain 
Anthony Wayne, Captain Trump, and Captain Aston, 
as appears from a letter dated, Bethlehem, January 14. 
1756, written by Benjamin Franklin, to Governor Mor- 
ris ; " Wayne's company we found posted at Nazareth, 
agreeably to your Honor's orders. The day after my 
arrival here, (Bethledem,) I sent off two wagons loaded 
with bread, and some axes, for Trump and Aston, to> 
Nazareth, escorted by Lieutenant Davis, and twenty 
men of M'Laughlin's, that came with me. I ordered 
him to remain at Nazareth to guard that place, while 
Captain Wayne, whose men were fresh, proceeded with 
the convoy to Giiadenhiiettcn.'"'^ 

There arc two small villages in this township, Ed- 
munds and Jacobsburg. The former is a post village 
on the road to Smith's Gap, between nine and ten miles 
from Easton. It contains six or seven dwellings, and a 
store. 

Jacobsburg, a post village, on the main road from 
Nazareth to the Wind Gap, eleven miles from Easton. 
It contains one store, one tavern, eight dwellijigs, a grisi 
mill, a furnace, formerly owned l)y Matthew S. Henry, 
now belonging to Mr. Sidney Clay well, and is in sue- 

♦Provincial Records. 



HISTORY or NORTHAMPTON COUNTY. 73 

cessful operation. There is also a rifle factory in opera- 
tion in this township. 

The population of this township in 1S20, was 1,262 ; 
in 1830, 1,402 ; in 1840, 1,716. Taxables in 1844, 375. 
County rates and levies on professions, $51,653 ; on 
real estate, horses and cattle, $214,340. Amount of 
state tax, $500 55. 

Forks township, so named from its locality, being in 
the '•'■ Forks of the Delaivare,^^ is bounded on the north 
by Plainiield and Lower Mount Bethel townships, on 
the east by the Delaware river, and the borough of 
Easton, on the south by the borough and the Lehigh 
river, on the west by Upper and Lower Nazareth, and 
Bethleliem townships. The surface is generally level ; 
the soil limestone, well cultivated, and very productive, 
tliough parts of it had been not more tlian thirty years 
ago, considered a " Barrens.-' 

Passing, it may here be stated that '• The Forks of 
the De/invare,'' is the name by which, a century ago, 
not only the present site ol Easton, but all that portion 
of country included between the Delaware river and the 
Lehigh river, and bounded on the north west by the 
Blue mountain, was known. This beautiful portion of 
Northampton coimty was occupied by a pai't of the 
Delaware natives, who held it till about 1737, when 
INIonockyhichan, Lappawinzoe, Teshakomen and Noo- 
timas, Indian Sachems, relinguishcd all final claims to 
Richard and Thomas Penn, sons of William Penn, the 
founder of Penns5dvania. 

This township is drained by the Bushkill creek, and 
several of its tributaries, and is traversed by a number 
of roads radiating from Easton to the several Gaps, 
towns and villages. Occasionally the traveller will meet 
with finger boards — " To Tint Cap^' — " To IVin 
Cap'- — " To Bint Crofe.''' There are seven flouring 
mills and three grist mills in this township. 

Stockersville, a post village, is on the right bank of tho 
Little Bushkill, seven miles from Easton, consisting of 
nine dwellinsrs, one tavern, two stores, two lumber 



74 HISTORY OF NORTHAMPTON COUNTY. 

yards ; a mill contiguous to it on the left bank of the 
Little Bushkill, which is crossed here by a permanent 
stone bridge. The village is in a very fertile plain. 

The population of this township in 1820, was 1,659 ; 
in 1830, 1,989; in 1840, 2,166. Taxables in 1844,535. 
County rates and levies on professions, $134,300 ; on 
real estate, horses and cattle, $1,223,610. Amount of 
state tax, $2,822 50. 

Lower Nazareth township, so named after Naza- 
reth, where the Rev. George Whitfield purchased a 
parcel of ground in 1740, and commenced to erect a 
large stone house, with the intention of establishing a 
free school for negro children.* It is bounded on the 
north by Upper Nazareth township, on the east by 
Forks township, on the south by Bethlehem, and on the 
west by Allen township. 

The surface of this township is level ; the soil lime- 
stone, and well improved by a judicious course of crops, 
and careful culture, and very productive. It is drained 
by the Monockicey creek, which atlbrds some fine mill 
seats. There are five grist mills, and five saw mills in 
tliis township. There are several small towns in it. 

Hecktown, a post village, is handsomely located on 
the road from Bethlehem to the Wind Gap, seven miles 
from Easton, and nine from Bethlehem. It contains 
fifteen dwellings, one tavern, one store, a Lutheran and 
German Refornied Church, called the " Dry Land 
Church." The country around the village is well im- 
proved. 

Newberg, four miles from Bath, and seven from 
Easton, is in a highly improved limestone country. 

*Heck€welders Narrative, p. 18. N. B. In a journal written by 
William Seward, Whitfield's companion in travelling, the following 
is noticed : 

"April 22, 1740 — Agreed with Mr. Allen for five thousand acres 
of the land on the Forks of the Delaware, at £2,200 sterling; the 
conveyance to be made to Mr. Whitfield, and after that assigned to 
me, as security for my advancing the money. Mr. Whitfield proposes 
to give orders for building the Negro school on the purchased land, 
before be leaves the province." — Memoirs of Whitfield, p. 50. 



HISTORY OF NORTHAMPTON COUNTY. t5 

Contains ten or eleven dwellings, one store and a tavern. 
The population of this township in 1820, was 1,084 ; 
in 1830, 1,204-, in 1840, 1,201. Taxables in 1844, 305. 
County rates and levies on professions, $38,860 ; on real 
estate, horses and cattle, $627,280. Amount of state 
tax, $2,081 11. 

Upper Nazareth township is bounded on the north 
by Moore township, on the east by Forks township, on 
the south by Lower Nazareth, and on the west by Allen 
town.ship. The surface is, in many places level, but 
generally, rolling. The soil slate and gravel, and ren- 
dered very productive. It is watered by two branches 
of the Monockicey creek. 

" There is a small slate quarry which has been occa- 
sionally worked, lying about one mile and a half west 
of the town of Nazareth. In the neighborhood of Na- 
zareth, which is on the line dividing tiie slate from the 
limestone formation, a material is produced, which an- 
swers well the ordinary purposes of black paint. This 
appears to be simply a more than usually carbonaceous 
black and soft variety of the slate, occurring near tlie 
base of the formation, a little above its contact with the 
limestone. It occurs also further east on the Bushkill." 
There are several prominent Moravian settlements in 
this township, which will be noticed below. The pop- 
ulation of the township in 1820, was 663 ; in 1830, 942 ; 
in 1840, 1,118. Taxables in 1844, 236. County rates 
and levies on professions, $31,360 ; on real estate, horses 
and cattle, $372,485. Amount of state tax, $934 74. 

The Moravian settlements are Nazareth, Schoeneck, 
Christian, Brunn, and Gnaderethal, all within the vicin- 
ity of the first named. 

Nazareth, on the head of a small branch of the Bush- 
kill creek, is the next to the principal Moravian settle- 
ment in this county. Its early history is identified with 
the history of the county. George Whitfield, a cele- 
brated divine, and founder of the Calvinistic Methodists, 
sailed for Georgia in 1737, where he remained two years, 
returned to England, and soon afterwards again to 



76 HISTORY OF NORTHAMPTON COUNTY. 

America, and made a tour through several of the prov- 
hices ; and in 1740 purchased a tract of land, within 
this township, with the intention of establishing a free 
school for negro children, where he laid the foundation 
for a large stone house, which he expected the Moravian 
Brethren, for some had been induced on his invitation 
to settle here, to finish the building which he had com- 
menced, though attended with great danger on account 
of the Indians, who had refused to quit the country, and 
threatened to nmrder the ]3rethren. Whitfield had laid 
the foundation of the house, and called the place Naza- 
reth, from which, afterwards, the whole manor received 
its name. The Brethren having erected the walls one 
story high, they were nevertheless obliged to leave the 
place in 1740. Whitfield had in the mean time gone 
to Georgia. The Brethren had another offer made them 
by a respectable merchant, of a piece of land, where 
Bethlehem now is. Some time afterwards, Whitfield 
offered them the manor of Nazareth in 1743, together 
with the unfinished building, which they accepted. The 
difficulties with the Indians were settled partly by com- 
promise, and by treaty with the Five Nations. The 
liouse was finished, and Nazareth became by degrees a 
very pleasant settlement.* 

On the eastern border of the village, the original 
house commenced by Whitfield, is still standing. It is 
a large antique edifice, built of limestone, with a high 
roof, and has a brick band in the wall, to mark how 
high the walls had been erected as the property or house 
of Whitfield. It marks distinctly the height or limits of 
Wliitfield's labor. When the Brethren had finished the 
house, it was appropriated as a place of worship, in 
1744. It is at present occupied by four families, two 
widows, and two other families. This house, or spot, 
is locally called, " Ephratd.''^ 

Nazareth was, during 1754, '55, '56, a place of refuge 
for the inhabitants of neighboring townships, who had 
fled to escape being murdered by the Indians. In 1756, 

•Crantz' Brueder Historic, p. 349. Loskiel I. p. 16; and Hecke- 
welder's Narative, p. 18, 19. 



HISTORY OP NORTHAMPTON COUNTY. 77 

Captain Wayne, Captain Trump and Captain Aston, 
were stationed here with companies each. These were 
days of suffering — many of the soldiers "were without 
shoes, stockings, blanliets or arms."* 

Not only was Nazareth a place of refuge for the 
whites, but on several occasions for the friendly Indians. 
The christianized Indians at Wequetank, having been 
threatened to be murdered in October, 1763, were re- 
moved to Nazareth. Wequetank was about thirty miles 
from Bethlehem. 

In the vicinity, north-east from Nazareth, was a place 
called the Rose, where many refugees took shelter. 
Loskiel, speaking in relation to these refugees, says : 
" As long as there Avas room, these poor fugitives were 
protected and fed. Nazareth, Friedensthal, Christian 
Brunn and the Rose, were at this time, 1755, considered 
as asylums for all who fled from the murder and rapine 
of hostile Indians ; and the empty school houses and 
mills were allotted to them for a temporary residence."! 

At present Nazareth is a post village, inhabited by 
Moravians. It is a very pretty, neat village, ten miles 
north of Bethlehem, and seven north-west of Easton, on 
tlie turnpike road to Wilksbarre, principally built on 
two streets, forming a right angle to the south and tvest. 
The ground on which the town is built, descends to the 
south, and the houses are generally of stone ; many of 
them only one story high. They are built close, and 
l!ie streets are paved — on each side a footway. The 
public buildings are a church and seminary for boys. 
The church is a spacious stone building, rough cast. It 
cost seven thousand dollars. Some splendid paintings 
from the pencil of the Rev. T. V. Haidt, are preserved 
in one of the rooms. The school is at present under the 
care of the Rev. Jacobson, numbering about fifty 
scholars. Every thing that renders a school attractive, 
is to be found here. The scenery of the place can vie 
with any in the state. The Boys' Retreat, or the Shady 

'Benjamin Franklin's letter to Gov. Morris, January 14, 1756. 
tLoskiel's History, Parti, p. 175, 176. 



78 HISTORY OF NORTHAMPTON COUNTY. 

Grove, is very inviting. There is also a sister's house 
here ; several stores and a tavern. The poulation is 
about 500. 

As a place of resort, Nazareth presents many induce- 
ments to the visiter. About a mile from the village, in 
a deep shady glen, a medicinal spring gushes out from 
a slate rock. A delightful summer retreat. 

Shoe7ieck was commenced 1760. It is about one-half 
mile north of Nazareth; consisting of nine or ten dwell- 
mgs, and a Moravian church. 

Guadenthal was commenced about the year 1749. 
The site of the county Poor House is here. It is about 
one mile from Nazareth. 

Christian Brunn, two miles south-west of Nazareth, 
was commenced about the same time with Guadenthal; 
it consists of several farm houses. These are all Mora- 
vian communities. 

Bethlehem township is bounded on the northward by 
Nazareth township, eastward by Moore township, south- 
ward by the river Lehigh, and westward by Hanover 
township and the Monockicey creek. It receives its 
name from the village of Bethlehem, founded in 1741, 
])y the Moravian Brethren. The surface of the country 
IS rolling; limestone soil, and highly improved, and very 
])roductive. It is watered by the Lehigh river, and 
Monockicey creek, which afford considerable water 
power. There are eight or ten mills in this township. 
Besides Bethlehem, the chief village, there are several 
others, of which an account will be given below. The 
population of this township in 1820, was 1,860; in 1830, 
2,430; in 1840, 2,983. Taxablesin 1844, 688. County 
rates and levies on professions, $104,333 ; on real estate, 
horses and cattle, $1,047,220. Amount of state tax, 
$3,194 62. 

Freemansburg, two miles below Bethlehem, on the 
left bank of the Lehigh river, is a very neat village, 
commenced some ten or twelve years ago, consisting of 
fifteen dwellings, principally of brick, one tavern, an 
academy or school house of brick, a storing house and 



HISTORY OF NORTHAMPTON COUNTT. 79 

several shops; a mill and store contiguous to it. There 
is a bridge across the river at this place. This place 
suffered considerably by the great freshet in January, 
1841. Among those who lost considerable, is John 
Warg, having lost a large quantity of stone coal, lum- 
ber and a canal boat. 

Bethlehem is situated on the north side of the Lehigh 
river, a branch of the Delaware, twelve miles above 
Easton, and fifty -one north of Philadelphia, and is one 
of the earliest principal settlements of the Moravians or 
United Brethren, in the United States. As early as 1 735, 
the Moravians directed their attention to the New World, 
forming at that time a colony in Georgia. Adverse cir- 
cumstances induced them to leave that and accept an 
ofter made them from the Rev. George Whitfield, to aid 
liim in improving a tract of land he had purchased in 
Pennsylvania, called iVaz<2reM, by him ; but a difference 
of opinion terminated the engagement. At this juncture, 
1740, a respectable merchant offered to sell them apiece 
of land, at the present site of Bethlehem, and Damid 
JS'iischman, arriving in 174G, with a company of brethren 
and sisters from Europe, they resolved unanimously to 
purchase the tract of land offered them, and make a 
permanent settlement here. It was wild and a forest, 
at a distance of fifty miles from the nearest town, and 
only two houses occupied by white people, about two 
miles up the Lehigh, in all this region. No other dwell- 
ings were to be seen in the whole country, except the 
scattered huts or wigwams of Indians, Here they com- 
menced a settlement, and built the village, which, by 
accessions from Europe, increased gradually.* 

Bethlehem is handsomly situated, on a rising hill — it 
is particularly romantic. The scenery is unsurpassed 
by any in Pennsylvania. The Lehigh river and Mo- 
nockicey creek, afford extensive water power for milling 
and other manufacturing purposes. The Lehigh canal, 
passing through the lower part of the town, affords great 

•Loskiel's History, part I. p. 16. See also David Crantz' Neue 
Brueder Historic V. Abschnilt, ij 98, p. 348, 



80 HISTORY OP NORTHAMPTON COUNTY. 

facilities for business. The number of private buildings 
may amount to one hundred and twenty. The pubUc 
buildings consist of a very large and commodious church, 
capable of containing two thousand persons. The build- 
ing cost thirty thousand dollars. It is perhaps one of 
the largest in the state. From the steeple a very beau- 
tiful, picturesque and extended view is had. In one 
direction the scene extends upwards of twenty miles 
along the course of the Lehigh, and the Water Gap, 
at the Blue mountain, terminates the wandering explora- 
tions of the eye. The church* is very plain on the out- 
side. The interior is simple, unornamented, and those 
who designed and executed the work, seem to have 
adopted the motto of nature's greatest poet. The organ 
is one of the best in the country, and the vocal and in- 
strumental music of the " Bethlehem Choir ^^ is but 
rarely exceeded any where in this countrj^ In a room 
of the church, are a number of portraits of distinguished 
missionaries and ministers, viz : Of Christian Seidel, 
Martin Mack, Frederick JSIartain, P. C. Bader, C. Pyr- 
laeus, Johann Arboe, David Zeisberger, A. P. Thrane, 
George Neisser, Gottlieb Bezold, C. Zhizendorf, son of 
Count Zinzendorf ; Petrus Bochler, Augustus Spangen- 
berg, Paul Muerster, A. Lawatsch, F. Dettmers, Michael 
Graf". They are all from the master pencil of T. V. 
Haidt. 

Here is also an extensive boarding school for j^oung 
ladies, established since 1788, and is very favorably 
known. The Rev. Henry Schuhz is Principal of the 
Female Seminary. There is also a school for boys. Be- 
sides these public buildings, there are also several others 
worthy of notice. There are two peculiar establish- 
ments here, in one of which a number of widows find 
an asylum in their old age ; and in another unmarried 

•The first church was a wooden building; afterwards it was 
rough-cast. It was contiguous to the present one. It contained 
appartments for the ministers' dwellings. When a larger house be- 
came necessary, one of stone was erected, accommodating from 
three to four hundred persons. This proving too small, the present 
large building was erected. 



HISTORY OF NORTHAMPTON COUNTY. SI 

women, chiefly likewise of advanced age, board together, 
under proper regulations, and the guardianship of the 
society. Here is also a Brothers' house, where those 
who choose to continue the state of single blessedness, 
can do so, and still gain an independent support. 

The Corpse House, wliere, on the decease of a mem- 
ber of the sociery, the corpse is deposited for three days, 
is worthy of a notice. When a death occurs, a part of the 
choir ascend the church cupola or steeple, when a requi- 
em or funeral hymn is played for the departed^ and the 
melancholy notes as they fall on the ear in a cahn morn- 
ing, are peculiarly solemn and impressive. The body, 
on the third day, is removed from the corpse house, the 
mourners place themselves around it, and after several 
strains of solumn music, the procession forms a line of 
march to the grave, preceded l3y the band, still playing, 
which is continued some time after the coffin is de- 
posited. 

The grave yard, though studiously avoided by many, 
is worthy the attention of the visiter, as well as other 
parts of the village. It is kept with perfect neatness. 
The graves are in rows. On each grave is placed a 
marble slab, or other stone, of about fifteen inches square, 
on which is engraved the name of the deceased ; the date 
of his birth and death. The visiter looks in vain for 
-sculptm^ed monuments reared over the cold clay of the 
departed, with labored panegyrics upon the distinguished 
characters of the departed. Instead of these, the 
blocks of " cold pale marble," or hewn sand stone, with 
a simple inscription mark the place of the remains of 
the departed. 

The poetical effusions oi Mrs. E. C. Embury, touch- 
ing the Moravian burial ground at Bethelehem, may 
atford the reader some idea of impressions created on 
visiting this place : 

When in the shadow of the tomb 

This heart shall rest. 
Oh ! lay me where spring flowrets bloom 

On earth's bright breast. 
F 



82 HISTORY OF NORTHAMPTON COUNTY, 

Oh ! ne'er in vaulted chambers lay 

My lifeless form ; 
Seek not such mean, worthless prey 

To cheat the worm. 

In this sweet city of the dead 

I fain would sleep, 
Where flowers may deck my narrow bed, 

And night-dews weep. 

But raise not the sepulchral stone 

To mark the spot ; 
Enough, if by thy heart alone 

'Tis ne'er forgot. 

On a visit to this place in October, 1844, tlie writec 
copied, among others, the following epitaphs • 

ISAAC 
OLAPAWANAMEN. 

of Shecomeco. 

Bap. a. 1742. 

Dep. Aug. 2nd, 1746. 

SALOME 

OF 

ShecomecOy 

wife of 

JOSHUA. 

Departed Sept. 21th„. 

1746. 

THOMAS 
FECHTOWAPPH). 

a Mohican 

OF 

Shecomeco. 

Dep., 

Aug. 27th, 1746 



HISTORY or NORTHAMPTON COUNTY. 8S 

In memory of 

Tschoop, a Mohican Indian, 

who in holy baptism, April 16th, 

1742, received the name of 

JOHN; 

One of the first fruits of the 

mission at Shecomeco, and a 

remarkable instance of the power 

of divine grace, whereby he 

became a distinguished teacher 

among his nation. 

He departed this life in full 

assurance of faith, at Bethlehem, 

August 27th, 174G. 

" There shall be one fold and one 
Shepherd." — John x, 16 

These were all Indians. Tschoop was a distmguished 
teacher among the sons of the forest. 

Among many others of men of distinction, may be 
found that of the pious and learned Rev. John Hecke- 
welder, who was born A. D. 1743, and died m 1823. 
He was many years a missionary among the Delaware 
and Mohegan Indian?. He is author of a Narative 
of the Mission of the United Brethren among the Dela- 
ware and Mohegan Indians, from its comencement, in 
the year 1740, to the close of the year 1810. 

Here is also a Museum of the Young Men's Mission- 
ary Society, containing a well selected cabinet of minerals, 
and a pretty extensive collection of natural and artificial 
curiosities, collected and sent in by the missionary 
brethren, from all parts of the world. 

The town is adequately supplied with good water 
from a copious spring, situated' at the foot of a hill, car- 
ried up one hundred and fourteen feet, perpendicularly, 
to a reservoir on its summit, by forcing pumps, in iron 
pipes, worked by the Manokecey creek, and thence dis- 
tributed into every street. Tli€ same creek afford.s 
adequate water power to several mills. 



84 HISTORY OF NORTHAMPTON COUNTY. 

There are three hotels in the place ; two of them very 
spacious. Mr. T. Riipp keeps one of these. His house 
is very large, three stories high, and commands a fine 
view of the country. It belongs to the society. There 
are five stores m the place, a" paper mill, grist mill, 
woolen and cotton factory, an iron foundry and a market 
house ; the population about twelve hundred, whereof 
one thousand are Moravians. There is a bridge over 
the Lehigh here. Most of the usual mechanical trades 
are carried on. In the vicinity of the place are several 
vineyards. 

The house where General La Fayette lay, during his 
recovery from the Avound he had received at the battle 
of Brandywine, September 11th, 1777, is still standing; 
and the woman, who acted as nurse to the old General, 
is still living m the Sister houses — she was, at least, some 
few years ago. 

This place suffered some damage from the freshet, 
January 8th, and 9th, 1841. Along Water street, South 
Bethlehem, the water forced its way into the second 
. story of some dwellings, the inmates in one of which, 
were rescued from a wtitery grave, by means of fiats 
and canoes. Timothy Weiss & Co. sustained a con- 
siderable lossj the greater part of the lumber yard was 
swept away. The Dridge company, besides the loss of 
the bridge, lost a large quantity of dry boards. Mr. 
Doster's saw mill, fulling mill, dye-house, weaver shop, 
machinery, &c, were greatly injured ; his loss was con- 
siderable. Mr. Beckcl's foundry was much damaged. 
A small brick house, and a large quantity of stone coal, 
the property of Henry Goundie, were swept away. Mr. 
Owen Rice's cooper-shop was injured, and its contents, 
consisting of two hundred flour barrels, were carried ofi'. 
The Anchor hotel of Mr. Heisser, was in great danger 
of being swept away. The Bethlehem Pleasure Gar- 
den, for girls'" play ground, was laid waste. The damage 
done to property of all kinds, along the Lehigh and 
Monokissy, was great. 

•. Bethlehem, and its vicinity, from its earliest settle- 
ment, and for many years afterwards, was the arena of 



HISTORY OF NORTHAMPTON COUNTF. 85 

many an interesting incident, and the place of refuge for 
many oppressed and marked victims of cruelty. It is so 
full of interesting occurrences, implicated with the general 
history of the country, and early efforts of missionary 
enterprizes, that to relate a i'ew^ in this place, is not 
deemed inappropriate. 

As early as 1742, Bethlehem was visited by that dis- 
tinguished minister of the gospel, Count Zinzendorf; 
while here, in company with his daughter, Benigna, he 
visited the Indian villages in the neighborhood. His 
first visit was to Patemi, a distinguished Indian, who 
lived near Nazareth. He found Patemi remarkably 
quiet and modest, who had regulated his economical 
atiairs much in the European style. The Count also 
visited Clistowacka, an Indian town, inhabited chiefly 
by Delawares. He called on an old Indian, whom the 
people called a priest, and whose grandson was sick 
onto death. The Count prayed for the child, recom- 
mending him to his great Creator and Redeemer. He 
next extended his tour beyond the Blue mountains. On 
this tour, a Mr. Remberger, a European trader, kindly 
accompanied the Count. The places he visited, beyond 
the mountains, were Pochapuchkung and Meniolago- 
mekah, not far above Guaden Huetten, or Fort Allen, 
in Mahony valley. He also extended his tour to Tul- 
pehocken, the residence of that eminent and useful man, 
Conrad Weiser, near the present site of Womelsdorf, 
Berks county. 

At Bethlehem, many of the believing Indians were 
baptized. It became a central and controlling station, 
from which missionaries, and the brethren, generally, 
received instructions from the elders, on their departure 
to their difierent out-posts. In 1746, it was the refuge 
of the persecuted Indians, from Shekomeko, an Indian 
village, bordering on Connecticutt, near the Stissik moun- 
tain, among whom the pious christian, Henry Ranch, 
had labore I with much success. The poor Indians, to 
flee from those who had meditated their extinction, 
accepted of an invitation tendered them by the brethren 
at Bethlehem, and took refuge here. Ten families of 



86 HISTORY OP NORTHAMPTON COUNTY. 

them, in all forty persons, left Shekonieko in ApiriJ., 
1746, with sorrow and tears, and were received at Beth- 
lehem with tenderness and compassion. Several of thens 
immediately built cottages near the settlement. Their 
morning and evening meetings were regulated, and the 
service performed in the Mahikan language. This, says 
Loskeil, comforted them, in some measure, for the loss of 
the regular service at Shckomeko, which was most pre- 
cious to them. Soon after, two Indian girls were bap- 
tized in Bethlehem chapel, in presence of the whole 
congregation, and a great number of friends," 

This small colony of Indians, settled in the immediate 
vicinity of Bethlehem, was called Tents of Peace, or 
Frieden-Huetten ; subsequently, these Indians Avere 
removed on a piece of land, on the junction of the Ma- 
hony creek and Lehigh river, beyond the Blue moun- 
tain, about thirty miles from Bethlehem, now Carbon 
county, and near Lehighton. The place was called 
Giiaden-Huetten, i. e. Tents of Grace.\ 

The Rev'd David Brainerd, the celebrated mission- 
ary, who labored among the Indians, in the forks of the 
Delaware, visited this place in September, 1743, and 
remained several days, having been confined to his room 
by reason of indisposition. "Had thoughts," says he, 
in his journal for September 20th, 1743, "of going for- 
ward on my journey to my Indians; but towards night, 
was taken with a hard pain in my teeth and shivering 
cold, and could not, possibly, recover a comfortable 
degree of warmth the whole night following. I con- 
tinued very full of pain all night, and in the morning 
had a very hard fever, and pains almost over my whole 
body."t 

Bethlehem was a place of general refuge, during the 
French and Indian war, from 1755, to 1760, When the 
Mission-house, of which a full account is given in 
speaking of Guaden Kuetten, in Carbon county, on 

* Loskeil, part ii. p. 83. 
■j- Fort Allen, Carbon county. 

X Brainerd's Public Journal, p. 108, as published by S. Converse, 
New Haven, 1822, 



HISTORY OF NORTHAMPTON COUNTT. 87 

Mahony creek, was destroyed November 24th, 1755, 
the Indian congregation, at Guaden Huetten, fled for 
security to Bethlehem, when the following interesting 
correspondence took place between them and the Gov- 
ernor of Pennsylvania, viz : 

To the Hon. Robert Hunter Morris, &c. The hum- 
ble address of the Indians late residing at Guaden 
Huetten, at their instance taken from their own mouth : 

Fij'st — We present our love, respect and duty to the 
Hon. Governor of Pennsylvania, because we are not 
able to express ourselves, as it should be, we beg there- 
fore that the best construction be put upon what we 
have to lay before him. 

We have been heretofore poor heathens, who knew 
nothing of God, but lived in blindness and abominable 
sins. The Brethren have told us words from Jesus Christ, 
our God and Lord, who became a man for us, and pur- 
chased salvation for us with his blood. We have heard 
their words, taken them to heart, received them in faith, 
and are baptized in the name of Jesus Christ. 

The Brethren since that time have faithfully cared for 
^js, and not only further instructed us in God's word, 
but have also permitted us to live upon their land, and 
plant our corn, at the same time instructing our children. 

It is now a great many years that we have lived in 
quiet and peace, under the protection of the government 
of this province, so that we have not been burdensome 
to none, (any,) nor has any body molested us. But now 
it is come to pass, that wicked people, who serve the 
devil, have committed horrible murders, and inhumanly 
butchered even our own Brethren. 

We well knew that we had nothing better to expect 
at their hands, as long as we continued with the Breth- 
ren under this government ; for which cause we sought 
to save our lives by flight, leaving every thing behind 
which we had in Guaden Huetten, that is, not only our 
habitations, but also our clothing and provision, fleeing 
m the dark night, naked and empty away with our 
wives and children. 

Now we are here in Bethlehem with our brethren. 



88 HISTORY OF NORTHAMPTON COUNTY". 

willing rather to suffer and live with them as heretofore. 
We cannot but declare to our Honorable Governor : 
First, That we are thankful from the bottom of our 
hearts for the protection and peace that we have hitherto 
enjoyed in this province. Secondly, That none of us 
have any hand in the abominable mui'ders lately com- 
mitted by the Indians ; but we abhor and detest them. 
Thirdly, It is our desire, seeing we are persuaded that 
our lives will be principally saught after, to put our- 
selves as children under the protectio-n, we cannot say 
otherwise, but that we are entirely devoted to the 
English Government, and wish success and prosperity 
to their arms, against their and our enemies. 

We hope that our Plonorable Governor will give us a 
gracious answer to this om* humble petition, and pro- 
vide for our future welfare and security. 

(Signed by the following, in the presence o-f Bernard 
Adam Grabe, John Jacob Schmick and J. Okely :) 

Joshua, the Mohickan ; Augustus, Delaware ; Jacob, 
Mohickan ; Anton, Delaware ; John Peter, Wamponas ; 
Joshua, Delaware ; Andreas, Wamponas ; Michael, Meni- 
sink ; Jonathan, Delaware; Philippus, Wamponas; John» 
Mohickan ; John, Delaware ; David, Mohickan ; Mark» 
Mohickan. 

Subscribed before 

TIMOTHY HORSEFIELD, 
Justice f&r Narthampton ccmniy, Nov. 30, 1755.. 

To the foregoing. Gov. Morris wrote the following in 
answer : 

To the Indians lately residing at Guadeu Huetten, and 

now at Bethlehem — Greeting : 

Brethren — You may always depend on the most 
favorable construction being put an whatever you lay 
before me. It gives me a true pleasure to find you are 
under the force of religious impressions, and speak in so 
affectionate a manner of the great Author of the Chris- 
tian salvation, our Lord Jesus Christ. 

As you have made it your own choice to become 



HISTORY OF NORTHAMPTON COUNTY. 89 

members of our civil society, and subjects of the same 
government, and to determine to share the same fate 
with us, I shall make it my care to extend the same pro- 
tection to you, as to the other subjects of his Majesty, 
and as a testimony of the regard paid by the government 
to the distressed state of that part of the province where 
you have suffered so much, I have determined to build 
a fort at Guaden Huetten, from which you will receive 
equal security with the white people under my care. 

I have not the least suspicion of your having been 
concerned in the late mischiefs. Your precaution and 
flight are an evidence of your innocence, and take in 
good part your professions of truth, and fidelity to your 
brethren, and thank you for them. 

I heartily commiserate your losses, and think you 
entitled to relief; and as I intend to send for all our 
friendly Indians to come and confer with me in this lime 
of danger, I shall let you know the time when I shall 
meet them, and desire you to be present, that 1 may 
speak to you at the same time. 

In the mean time, I desire you will be of good be- 
haviour, and remain where you are. 

ROB. H. MORRIS.* 

Philadelphia Dec. 4, 1755. 

These were trying times to the people of this region 
of country, as may be learned from the subjoined origi- 
nal letters : 

Letters by express from Northampton county, inform- 
ing the government that the Indians had begun hos- 
tilities. 

A letter from Timothy Horsefield, to the Governor : 

Bethlehem, Dec. 12, 1755. 
May it please your Honor : 
Sir — The enclosed are a faithful translation of two 
original German letters to the Rev. Mr. Spangenberg. 

*Prov. Rec, N. 324-326. 



90 HISTORY OF NORTHAMPTON COUNTY. 

which are just now come to hand, and which will in- 
form your Honor of the particulars which I have to 
lay before you. Your Honor will thereby see what 
'Circumstances we are in, in these parts. 

I would also just mention to your Honor, that the 
bearer brings with him some pieces of arms which fail 
in the using, and which make the people afraid to take 
them in hand. I pray that your Honor will take it in 
your further consideration, and give us all the assistance 
that lays in your power. 

I am, with all due respect. 

Your Honor's most obliged 
and humble servant, 

TIMOTHY HORSEFIELD. 
P. S. I have sent to alarm the country with all the 
t^xpedition possible, but when we have the people, we 
have no proper persons to lead them, and what can we 
expect ? 

A letter from W. Nathanael, to the Rev. Mr. Span- 
genberg. 

Nazareth, Dec. 11, 1755. 

Mr. Bizraan, who just now came from the Blue moun- 
tain, and is the bearer of this letter, will tell you that there 
!S a number of two hundred Indians about Broad head's 
])lantation. They have destroyed most all the planta- 
tions thereabouts, and killed several families as Hoeth's. 
You will be so kind and acquaint Mr. Horsefield direct- 
ly of it, that he may send a messenger to Philadelphia, 
and let all our neighbors know what we have to expect, 
and that they may come to our assistance. 

NATHANAEL. 

A letter from Mr. Graff to the Rev. Mr. Spangenberg : 

Nazareth, December 11, 1755. 

An hour ago came Mr. Glotz, and told us that the 10th 

instant, in the night, Hoeth's family were killed by the 

Indians ; except his son and the smith, who made their 

t^scape, and the houses burnt down. Just now came old 



HISTORY OF NORTHAMPTON COUNTY. 91 

Mr. Hartman with his family, who also escaped, and 
they say that all the neighborhood of the above men- 
tioned Hoeths, viz: Broadhead's, Culver's, McMichael, 
and all houses and families thereabouts, attacked by the 
Indians at day-light, and burned down by them. Mr. 
Culver's and Hartman's family are come to us with our 
wagons, &c. Lodged partly here in Nazareth, and 
partly in the tavern. Our wagons which were to fetch 
some corn, were met by Culver's, three miles this side 
his house, and when they heard these shocking news, 
they resolved to return, and to carry these poor people 
to Nazareth. 

They say also that the number of Indians is above 
two hundred. We want to hear your good advice what 
to do in this present situation and circumstances, and 
desire if possible your assistance. 

GRAFF. 

Letter from Horsefield to the Governor : 

Bethlehem, Dec. 12, 1755. 
May it please your Honor : 

Sir — I have despatched an express this morning to 
your Honor, in Philadelphia, to inform you of the cir- 
cumstances we are in ; but since hearing that you were 
in New York, I thought it my duty to despatch another 
«. messenger with this, thinking it might yet find your 
Honor there. 

In the night an express arrived from Nazareth ac- 
i|uainting me that there is certainly people now in Na- 
zareth, who fled for their lives, and informs us that one 
Hoetli and his family are cut off, only two escaping, and 
the houses &c., of Hoeth, Broadhead and others, are 
actually laid in ashes, and people from all quarters fly- 
ing for their lives, and the common report is that the 
Indians are two hundred strong. 

Your Honor can easily guess at the trouble and con- 
sternation we must be in on this occasion, in these parts. 
As to Bethlehem, we have taken all the precaution in 
our power, for our defence. We have taken our little 



93 EISTORV OF NORTHAMPTON COUNTY. 

infants from Nazareth to Bethlehem, for the greater 
security ; and these, with the rest of our children, are near 
three hundred in number. Altho' our gracious King and 
Parliament have been pleased to exempt those among 
us of tender conscience from bearing arms, yet there are 
many amongst us who make no scruple of defending 
themselves against such cruel savages. But, alas ! what 
can we do, liaving very few arms, and little or no ammu- 
nition ; and we are now as it were, become the frontier ; 
and as we are circumstanced, our family being so large, 
it is impossible for us to retire to any other place foj' 
security. 

I doubt not, your Honor's goodness will lead you to 
consider the distress we are in, and speedily to afibrd us 
what relief shall be thought necessary against these 
merciless savages. 

I am, with due respect, 

Your Honor's most obedient servant. 

TIMO. HORSEFIELD.* 

P. S. Hoeth's, Broadhead's, &c., are situate a few 
miles over the Blue mountains, about ,25 or 30 miles 
from here. 

Benjamin Franklin, on his way to erect Fort Allen, 
on the left bank of the Lehigh river, where Weissporl 
is, stopped at this place, as may be seen from the follow- 
ing letter, addressed to Governor Morris, viz : 

Bethlehem, Jan. 14, 1756. 
Governor Morris: 

Sir — As we drew near this place, we met a number 
of wagons, and many people moving off with their 
effects and families, from the Irish settlement and Lehigh 
township, being terrified by the defeat of Hay's com- 
pany, and the burnings and murders committed in the 
townships on new year's_ day. We found this place 
filled with refugees, the workmen's shops, and even the 
cellars, being crowded with women and children ; and 
\vQ learned that Lehigh township is almost entirely 

»Prov'. Rec, N. 331-32. 



HISTORY OF NORTHAMPTON COUNTF. 93 

abandoned by the inhabitants. Soon after my arrival 
here, the principal people of the Irish settlement, as 
Wilson, elder Craig, &c. came to me, and demanded an 
addition of thirty men to Craig's company, or threatened 
rhey would immediately, one and all, leave then country 
to the enemy. Hay's company was reduced to eighteen 
men, (and those without shoes, stockings, blankets, or 
arms) partly by the loss of Guaden Huetten, and partly by 
desertion. Trump and Aston had made but slow pro- 
gress in building the first fori, complaining for want of 
tools, which it was thought the people in those parts 
might have supplied them with. 

Wayne's company we found posted at Nazareth, 
agreeable to your Honor's orders. I immediately di- 
rected Hays to complete his compa]Ty, and he went 
down to Bucks county with Mr. Beatty, who promised 
10 assist him in recruiting. His lieutenant lies here lame, 
with frozen feet, and unfit for action ; but the ensign, 
with eighteen men, is posted among the present frontier 
inhabitants, to give some satisfaction to the settlement 
people, as I refused to increase Craig's company. In 
my turn, I have threatened to disband or remove the 
companies already posted, for the security of particular 
townships, if the people would not stay on their places, 
behave like men, do something for themselves, and assist 
the province soldiers. 

The day after my arrival here, I sent off two wagons 
loaded with bread, and some axes, for Trump and 
Aston, to Nazareth, escorted by Lieutenant Davis, and 
nventy men of M'Laughlin's, that came with me. I 
ordered him to remain at Nazareth to guard that place, 
while Capt. Wayne, whose men were fresh, proceeded 
'ivith the convoy. To secure Lyn and Heidelberg town- 
ships, whose inhabitants were just on the wing, I took 
Trexler's company into pay, (he had been before com- 
missioned by Mr. Hamilton) and I commissioned Wet- 
terholt, who commanded a watch of iburty-four men, 
before in the pay of the province, ordering him to com- 
plete his company. I have also allowed thirty men to 
secure the township oi Upper Smilhfield, and commis- 



94 HISTORY OF NORTHAMPTON COUNTY. 

sioned Van Etten and Hinshan, as Captain and Lieuten- 
ant. And in order to execute more speedily the first 
design of erecting a fort near Guaden Huetten, to com- 
plete the line and the rangers into motion, I have raised 
another company under Captain Charles Foult, to join 
with Wayne in that service ; and as Hays, I hear, is not 
likely soon to recruit his company, I have ordered Orndt 
to come up from Rockland, in Bucks county, to 
strengthen this part of the province, convey provisions 
&:e., to the companies who are and will be at work over 
the mountains, and quiet the inhabitants, who seem ter- 
rified out of their senses. 

The arms and blankets wrote for to New York, are 
not yet arrived; but I hear that 100 guns and 150 
blankets are on the road, sent me by Mr. Coldon ; those 
of Mr. Walton's being sold before, I have consulted 
Mr. Parsons, and if the wagons come to-day, it is pro- 
posed that I proceed to-morrow, with Wayne's company, 
which is returned, Foulk's and the twenty men of M'- 
Laughlin's, to Guaden Huetten, to lay out the intended 
fort, and endeavor to get it despatched. Capt. Wayne 
tells me that Trump expects the first fort will li3e finished 
next week. I hope to get this done as soon, having 
more tools ; though at this season it seems to be fighting 
against nature. But I imagine 'tis absolutely necessary 
to get the ranging line of forts completed, that the peo- 
ple may be secured as soon as possible in their habita- 
tions, and the internal guards and companies dismissed, 
otherwise the expense and loss to the province will be 
intolerable. 

I want much to hear the event of the proposed treaty, 
and the determination your Honor and the commis- 
sioners may have come to, for the encouragement of 
volunteer scalping parties. 

I am, with dutiful respect. 
Sir, your Honor's most 
Obedient humble servant, 

B. FRANKLIN. 



J 



HISTORY OF NORTHAMPTON COUNTY. 95 

The Brethren here, as well as at other Moravian set- 
tlements in this part of Pennsylvania, were peculiarly 
situated. Notwithstanding that they afforded protection 
to refugees from a cruel death expected to be inflicted by 
the savage Indians, " the Irish of the Kittatinny valley 
viewed the Brethren with jealousy, and openly threaten- 
ed to exterminate the Indian converts, and it was 
dangerous for the friendly Indians even to hunt in the 
woods,^' or even when sent on public business. The 
following letter from the Rev. Spangenberg tO' Governor 
Morris, goes to sustain the truth of this in the main : 

Bethlehem, May 2d, 1756. 
May it please your Honor : 

I arrived at Bethlehem the 28th, 1st month, and com- 
municated with our Indians, at your Honor's desire, 
that one or other of them might go with the messengers 
who were sent by your Honor's orders, to the Indians 
at the Susquehanna, and would soon be with us at Beth- 
lehem, in their way thither. Augustus, a Delaware, 
alias George, upon serious consideration upon going and 
not being ignorant of many dangers he might happen to 
meet with, he called his wife, mother-in-law and two 
sons together, and declared to them his last will, in case 
he should be either killed or hindered some how from 
coming back again, viz : That they should continue with 
our Saviour, with whom he was determined to abide as 
long as he had flesh and skin upon his back, and that 
they should not leave the Brethren. 

Tegrea and company came from Bethlehem the same 
day, and when I presented to them the said Augustus, 
they were very much pleased with him, he being a man 
of good judgment, of an honest countenance, and well 
acquainted with the woods up that way to Woyming ; 
and so they are gone together yesterday, to Fort Allen, 
and to-morrow they will proceed from thence on their 
journey to the Susquehanna. / thought them all in 
greater danger of being hurt in the Irish settlement, 
than any where else in all the province, and therefore 
I did desire James Ennis and Thomas Apty, not to 
leave them till they were at Fort Allen, and so they 



96 HISTORY OF NORTHAMPTON COUNTY. 

went along. Mr, Edmunds, David Zeitzberger, George 
Klein and Stephen Blum, all of them went also with 
them to Fort Allen — the sheriff of this county not be- 
ing at home at the time of setting off. 

We have used them well at Bethlehem, and shewed 
them so much kindnes as they were able to accept of, 
and I think they went away well pleased. Their last 
declaration, as well at Bethlehem as at Fort Allen, which 
he also wanted me to write to your Honor, was as fol- 
lows, viz : 

" We do remember very well the words the Governor 
hath put in our mouths, and will deliver them faithfully. 
May be this affair will take up some time, twenty, if 
not thirty, or thirty-five days. If we do not return hi 
that time, be sure that we are either killed, or that 
the danger is such that we cannot get through. But if 
we can, we will go directly to Thomas Magee's, and so 
on to the Governor, for so he hath ordered us to do ; and 
so we will do if we can. But if either the white people 
or the bad Indians are in the way, we cant go doAvn the 
Susquehanna by. water, then we will come by Fort Allen 
and Bethlehem back again. 

" If we happen to lose our flag or passport (for the man 
who carries it may be shot, and others may be forced to 
fly for their lives,) then we will come to the forts, or any 
of them, and our token shall be a club'd musket and 
green boughs in our hats. 

" If we meet with bad Indians in the woods, and 
some of us be killed, you may expect any one that 
•escapes, in ten days ; if we do not return in such a time, 
then you may think that we are luckily arrived. 

" If we dont come in twenty days, then let the cap- 
tains of each fort look out for us in fifteen days, which 
m all makes thirty-five days, and we will not come in 
the night to any of the forts." 

Now this is humbly to request your Honor, that if they 
come down to Harris' Ferry to meet your Honor, then 
Augustus may have your passport, and bo safely con- 
ducted by proper and careful oflicers to Bethlehem again, 



HISTORY OP NORTHAMPTON COUNTY. 97 

for SO much I have promised him, and he expects it from 
your Honor. 

I am your Honor's 

Humble servant, 

SPANGENBERG.* 

The Indians at Bethlehem were repeatedly instrumen- 
tal in preventing the destructionof the settlers ; when they 
heard of a plot against the whites by the warriors, well 
disposed Indians would travel all night to warn the 
brethren and others, and thus defeat the schemes of the 
cruel enemy. An istance is related in the following 
letter : 

Bethlehem, June 21, 1756. 
Mai/ it please your Honor : 
This morning early, about five o'clock, there arrived 
here two Delaware Indians, from Diahoga, who, declar- 
ing themselves friends to the English, and peaceably 
disposed, were by us received as such. Their names 
yre Nichodemus, and Christian, his son, and formerly 
lived in Guaden Huetten. As soon as I heard of their 
being here, though sick in bed, I sent for Captain New- 
castle, and acquainted him with it, and what I had 
heard of the circumstances, namely, that they left Dia- 
hoga with a company of their friends, nine women and 
children, to the number of fifteen ; that a day's journey 
beyond Guaden Huetten, they had left the rest of their 
company, and determined to venture their lives and 
come through, and see how they could get the rest after 
them. When the Captain heard this, he directly re- 
solved, in virtue of his commission from your Honor, to 
go this day with his company and Nichodemus' son 
Christian, attended by Mr. Edmonds, to Guaden Huet- 
ten, and immediately proceed to bring them to the fort, 
and from thence hither in safety, till further orders from 
your Honor. I thought this highly necessary to acquaint 

•Prov. Rec, Book O., p. 108, 109. 
G 



98 HISTOKY OF NORTHAMPTON COUNTY. 

you with by express, that we may speedily know your 
Honor's pleasure herein. 

I am, with all due respect. 

Your Honor's most humble 
and obedient servant, 

TIMO. HORSEFIELD. 
P, S. The under-written particulars I got to the 
Imowledge of, from our Indians who had conversed with 
diem, but as I had promised Captain Newcastle he 
should know the contents of my letter to your Honor, 
f would not insert them in it, doubting whether it might 
be prudent he should, know so much, 

1. Wlien the Indians came away, and it was known, 
they found there were a great many of the same mind 
with them, and wished themselves under the protection 
of the English, and they think many will follow them, 
particularly if they hear these have succeeded. 

2. That several of the chiefs who had lived in Dia- 
hoga when Captain Newcastle was last there, were now 
moved higher up, and generally thought, (though not 
certainly known) to liave gone to the French. 

As things are circumstanced, I humbly conceive it 
will be liighly necessary to use all the despatch imagina- 
])le to send away the Captain — he himself being very 
urgent for the messenger's return, that he may forthwith 
proceed to Diahoga. 

TIMO. HORSEFIELD. 

Governer Morris' answer to Horsefield, to the above : 

Philadelphia, June 23, 1756. 

Sir — I am favored with your's.of the 21st by express, 
and in answer, think it proper that Captain Newcastle 
should set off directly for Diahoga, and take with him 
tvAO or three of the Indians just arrived, that they may 
testify along with him our good reception of them. 

1 do hereby empower the Brethren, and request them 
Jo receive into their houses at Bethlehem, all such 
friendly Indians as shall come to them, and desire to be 
taken in, and to support and maintain them, till they 



HISTORY ©P NORTHAMPTON COUNTY. 99 

have my further orders, always taking care to advise 
me from time to time, of the arrival of any Indians, 
mentioning their places of abode, their tribe and such 
other circumstances as shall be necessary to give me a 
just and proper account of them; and any expenses at- 
tending this service, will be paid by the government. 

I herewith enclose an additional message to New- 
castle, which I beg you to send to him, wherever he is, 
with all possible despatch ; as every article is very 
necessary ; and if he should be gone, as you see from 
the first part of my letter that I intend some of the In- 
dians from Diahoga should accompany him, I desire 
you, or some of the Brethren, will speak in my name, to 
such of the Diahoga Indians as you shall think most 
trusty, and send forward directly my additional message 
to Newcastle. 

I am Sir, 

Your humble servant. 

ROBT. H.MORRIS.' 

In answer to the Governor's instructions and queries, 
the Rev. Spangenberg wrote the follov/ing answer : 

Bethlehem, June 26, VI 6ii. 
May it please your Honor : 

Having been from home when Newcastle came to 
Bethlehem, and your Honor's letter to me, my Brethren 
have taken care to see your orders obeyed, as far as lay 
in their power. 

What hath been spoken and done with Newcastle 
before he set off from Bethlehem, your Honor will see 
out of the enclosed account, dated June 15, 

Since that time he came back, and brought with him 
Jo. Pepy and Nicodemos and their families; the list 
whereof your Honor will see laid by in the close of this 
letter. 

Yesterday he (Newcastle) dCvSired to know your 
Honor's further order, which was delivered unto him 

•Pov. Rec, O. 160-:;. 



100 HISTORY OF NORTHAMPTON COUNTY- 

accordingly, out of your Honor's letter, as will appeai 
by record, dated 25th and 26th June. 

Now to tell your Honor the truth, I don't believe that 
either Jo. Pepy or Nicodemus and their families can stay 
at Bethlehem. We have been obliged to put people out 
of the house, to make room for them. But this is not 
all ; there is such a rage in the neighborhood against the 
said poor creatures, that I fear they will mob us and them 
together. For Jo. Pepy having lived among the Pres- 
byterians, and treacherously being gone from them, hath 
exasperated them in the highest degree. 

We have put two men with them to be their safe- 
guard, but your Honor knows very well that this won't 
hinder the stream, when it is coming upon them and u? 
at the same time. I proposed to them to-day, whether 
they or any of them should choose to go with Newcastle, 
but they did not care for it. They are afraid, I believe, be- 
cause they have deserted from the Indians, as before from 
the English. They have told me the families which are 
inclined to come, and will come, if they can, with New- 
castle. The most of them are known here, to be good 
for nothing, and quite faithless creatures. 

I therefore humbly beg of your Honor to remove the 
said Jo. Pepy and Nicodemus and their families, the 
sooner the better, to Philadelphia, for there they are in 
the heart of tiie country, and mischief may be prevented, 
which could breed evil consequences. 

As for the rest, I hear that Jo. Pepy, as well as Nico- 
demus, have been all along employed in councils and 
treaties, and messengers, since the time the war began : 
so that if they are iriends indeed, they may give your 
Honor a light into many things, relating to the Indian 
affairs. 

I am, your Honor's 

Most humble servant, 

spangenbp:rg. 

The names of the two Delaware families, now at 
Bethlehem, that came there from Diahoga, June i.4, 
1756 



HISTORY OF NORTHAMPTON COUNTY. 101 

Joseph Pepy? Wewnlalinlent ; Sarah, Natehetechque, 
(his wife.) Their children — James Petesch, Isaac, Sa- 
rah, Jesaias Gonassenook, Mettshish. 

Nicodemiis, Weshichagechive ; Justina, Saagochque. 
Their children — Zacharias, Petachtshowechive ; Chris- 
tian Pulloky, Nathan Wonpris, Thomas Potshalagees, 
Gashatis, Dorathea. 

Substance of what was said to the Indians at Bethle- 
hem, Jmie 15, 1756 : 

The Indians, viz : Newcastle, Jagrea, John Pomshire, 
Thomas Stores and Joseph Mitchy, being together, and 
some of the Brethren at Bethlehem present, William 
Edmonds asked the Captain about the mterpreter, and 
John Pomshire was appointed thereto. Then William 
Edmonds informed them from the Governor's letter, 
that by a letter from Mr. Charles Reed, of the Jerseys, 
he had intelligence that some white people were gone 
from Paulin's Hill, in the Jerseys, to scout after and 
scalp the Indians, and therefore he desired out of love 
and care for the safety of these Indian messengers, we 
would keep them here so long, till we ^could send' me- 
iscngers thither to enquire into the certainty thereof, and 
whither they were returned, and if they had killed and 
done any Indians mischief; and that two messengers 
were sent from here accordingly, with letters to Mr. 
Parsons and Justice Anderson, desiring them to assist 
them all they could on their journey. Further, that since 
the said messengers were gone, the Governor hath been 
pleased to let us know by an express, that he hath been 
informed by Col. Clapham, that Ogaghradarisha, a chief 
of the Six Nations, was come to Shamokin, expressing 
their high satisfaction at our building a fort at Shamo- 
kin, and that another Indian of Cayuga had accom- 
panied him as far as Diahoga, and had been afraid of 
going on, though he might have come safe with Ogagh- 
radarisha. 

It was on this account the Governor's desire that 
Newcastle and his company might proceed on their 
journey for Diahoga, as soon as possible. On this New- 
castle replied, that he would consult with his com- 



102 HISTORY OF NORTHAMPTON COUNTY. 

panions, and let us know his mind to-morrow morning. 
The next morning he said, tiiat as it was so dangerous 
now to go up, by reason of the Jersey parties who were 
gone out against the Indians, and his cousins were ready 
to go with him step by step on this important aflair, he 
should be short'in duty, and always to blame, if he should 
proceed without first acquainting the Governor that said 
young men were gone, according to report we had by the 
messengers sent to Jersey, especially if they should meet 
with his cousins, and do them mischief. 

At the same time, he desired that his companions 

might have what they wanted for their journey ; and 

vas told, thereupon, that the Governor had given orders 

for it, and that we would not fail to let them have every 

thing that could be got here. 

WM. EDMONDS. 

Substance of what was delivered to Capt. Newcastle 
at Bethlehem, June 26, 1756: 

At a solenm meeting with Capt, Newcastle and his 
company, and Jo. Pepy, &:c. 

First — A string of wampum was presented to Jo. 
Pepy, that he and company were welcome among us. 
They then were told, that his Honor the Governor, had 
given orders to provide them the necessary refreshments 
&c., and that he wants to know what persons and fami- 
lies are come, and what families are still at Diahoga, that 
perhaps might come among us. 

The taking of a copy of the Governor's proclamation 
for suspending all actions of hostilities, &:c., with them, 
was recommended, and we found they had one. 

The Governor's pass was read, explained, and then 
delivered to them. They were spoken to about the 
flag, it being the king's, which by no means should be 
violated, and great care thereof was recommended to 
tjiem. 

The additional message sent by the Governor, was 
read and interpreted to Newcastle, and two strings be- 
longing to it delivered to him, and the writing itself also, 
X\vsX he may peruse it whenever occasion requires. 



HISTORV OF NORTHAMPTON COUNTY. 103 

The building of a fort at Sliamokin, and the great 
necessity for it, was strongly represented to Newcastle, 
viz : That the Five Nations had pressed it very much, 
and Scarroyady urged also very nuich the finishing of 
it when he was at Philadelphia, and this matter must bf' 
represented in its real light to the Indians at Diahoga. 
It is for the safety of our friendly Indians along the Sus- 
«iuehanna. 

They were told further, that Ogaghradarisha was at 
Shamokin, and very glad of the fort which they are 
building there. That he was called by the Governor to 
Philadelphia, and would not be detained longer than 
needful. Newcastle was desired to relate this to the 
Indians at Diahoga, 

Newcastle was also informed that it would be agreea- 
ble to the Governor's mind, if one or two of those In- 
dians, who lately came from Diahoga, should go along 
with him. Newcastle's journey was vu'ged that it 
might not be delayed ; and he promised to go as soon as 
fiis health would permit ; he being as yet a little indis- 
posed by reason of some boils. 

A string of wampum was sent to John Shickcalamy, 
signifying that the Governor invites him to come to him, 
and if possible, in company with Capt, Newcastle. 

At last a string of wampum was delivered to New- 
castle, which is sent by the Governor to the friendly In- 
dians, signifying that as Sir William Johnson hath invited 
the Six Nations, and all the western Indians to Oswego, 
it was left entirely to their own choice, either to go to 
the treaty at Oswego, or come to the Governor at Phila- 
delphia — Sir William and the Governor being of one 
and the same interest, both friends to the Indians, and 
servants to the same king. 

After we were just going to break up, Jo. Pepy de- 
clared openly in the Delaware language, which was 
interpr. ted by Pompshire, that he was very sorry that 
he had taken such a mis-step, as to leave his English 
Brethren, when he should have come nearer to them. 

He said further, that he since then had been excessive- 
ly troubled in mind about it, and not being able to live 



104 HISTORY OF NORTHAMPTON COUNTY. 

any longer under such oppression and uneasiness of 
mind, he at last resolved and ventured his life, and so 
returned with all his family to the English again. Now 
he begs very much to be forgiven, and surrenders him- 
self entirely to the mercy of the government, to do with 
him as they pleased. 

He further said, that he knew ten or twelve families, 
which would be glad to come down again to the 
English, but he did not think proper to acquaint them of 
his resolution, when he went himself, and so left them 
behind. 

Then he was told what his Honor the Governor had 
written concerning them, viz : That they were wel- 
come among us, and that he expected to hear who they 
were, and their names, and then he would appoint for 
them accordingly, a place of safety. In the mean time 
they were to stay among us, and for their security we 
will give them two of our white brethren to be their 
guard, that none shall hurt them ; and in case any white 
man should come and offer to speak with them, he shall 
be refused, except he have an order from a magistrate ; 
and in this situation they are to remain till further orders 
from his Honor, the Governor. 

WM. EDMONDS.* 

Letter from T. Horsefield, to Governor Morris. 

Bethlehem, July 6, 1756. 
May it please your Honor : 
I received your Honor's favor of the 4th inst., by re- 
turn of the express, and agreeable to your directions 
have bespoke three of the Indians two shirts and a 
blanket for each, which shall be delivered to them in 
yom* Honor's name. The inclosed papers will inform 
vour Honor the occasion of this express. The Indians 
desire to be despatched as soon as possible. The reason 
of it, your Honor will please to observe their families are 
in much want of provision^ They will, however, wait 

^Prov. Rec, O. 166-7. 



HISTORY OF NORTHAMPTON COUNTY. 105 

two days for your Honor's answer, by which time I 
hope this express will return. 

We labor under much difficulty on account of these 
Indians wanting their guns repaired, and to have some 
powder and lead, which we cannot by any measure do, 
unless we have your Honor's express command for it. 
If it be your pleasure it shall be done or not, please to 
signify it, as your Honor's command shall be strictly 
obeyed. I beg leave to observe Kolapecka, Paxinosa's 
son, seems very desirous to carry, according to the Indian 
way of speaking, some words from your Honor to his 
father. 

I am, with all due respect. 
Your Honor's most obedient 
Humble servant, 

TIMO. HORSEFIELD.* 

(U°A. paper enclosed in the foregoing letter. 

Bethlehejn, July 6, 1756. 

Last night, in the dark of the evening, arrived at 
Bethlehem, four Indians from Diahoga, with a convoy 
from fort Allen, and a letter from Newcastle, which is 
enclosed. As Newcastle desired that kindness might 
be shown them, they were cheerfully received and en- 
tertained. 

This morning they were visited, and told at the same 
time that a messenger should be sent to the Governor, 
and therefore they should let us know what they had to 
say to the Governor. Kolapecha, Packsinosa's son, a 
Shawanese, answered to this effect : — He did not come 
from Diahoga with an intent to go to Bethlehem, but 
was out a hunting, his family being scarce of provisions. 
That Shekashano, Mekikachpe and Wenimah, all 
Shawanese, now of Diahoga, and formerly of Wyomink, 
in his company — that not being sent by the chiefs, he had 
no message to the Governor, nor could he tell us any 
news. So much, however, he knew — that nine nations 

•Prov. Rec, 0. 178, 



106 HISTORY OF NORTHAMPTON COUNTY. 

were in the English interest, viz : The Shawanese, 
Tasaning, Nanticokes, Tuscaroras, Tuttelars, Ononda- 
goes, Cayugas, Sankikman and Ganossetage, And he 
said I am sure they are all friends to the English. Be- 
ing asked about the Delawares, his answer was : About 
them I can say nothing. 

About his father he told us, that he was gone with 
.another chief, of the Mennisink nation, whose name is 
Onandamokin, to meet Sir Wm. Johnson at the council 
with the Indians at Onandago. 

Then he was asked about the Alleghany Indians, with 
an intent to join them and to fall upon the English, 
whether he had heard any thing of it. He said he 
knew that some were gone there from Diahoga, but for 
what end I do not know. I could not find out. 

Paxhiosa's sen told the Brethren that if they had any 
message to his father, he would bring their words unto 
him. Hereupon he was told that the Brethren were 
private persons, and that it would be better he staid for 
the Governor's words. He said I can't stay long, for 
my family is in want. I will however stay a couple 
»)f days, and should be glad to take up some words to 
my father. 

He was told that as he wanted to bring down his 
family, he should be helped with some provisions.* 

The situation of the people at Bethlehem, became 
still more alarming. At this critical juncture, Mr. Horse- 
field addressed Governor Morris in the Ibllowing lan- 
guage : 

BeihlehcDi, July 7, 1756. 
May if please your Honor : 

I think it my duty to acquaint your Honor with the 
great danger wherein we apprehend not only the 
Brethren at Bethlehem and their families, but all the 
country round about us, are in at present. 

Your Honor has invited the friendly Indians, by Capt. 
Newcastle, to come into this province, with a promise 
that they should be kindly received and entertained. 
Your Honor has given out a proclamation at the same 

•Poii'. Rec, 0. 179. 



HISTORY OF NORTHAMPTON COUNTY. 107 

time, that the Indians coming into Pennsylvania should be 
received as friends, and not treated as enemies till the 
third of July, a. c. Now Capt. Newcastle sends Indians 
to Bethlehem, of whom we are not sure whether they 
are friends or enemies ; and we may expect more are 
coming. And who knows how many may come with 
them under the pretence of being friends ; therefore 
give it your Honor's wise consideration. 

1st. Whether wicked people that are bitter against 
the Indians, cannot and may not fall upon them and de- 
stroy them, the proclamation being expired. 

2nd. Whether the Indians who come under pretence 
of being friends, as they have not engaged a cessation 
of arms, and as they actually do keep their arms, may 
not fall, not only upon us in Bethlehem, but also upon 
all the country, and do a great deal of mischief. 

Your Honor will please consider that either of the be- 
fore mentioned things can prove fatal and destructive to 
the province, and his Majesty's most dutiful subjects. 

It is therefore that two Brethren from Bethlehem, viz : 
Nathan Seidel and Christian Thos. Benzier, are appoint- 
ed to go in the name of all the inhabitants of Bethlehem, 
to represent this aflair in its proper light, to your Honor ; 
and they do hope that your Honor will not expose them 
like sheep to the mouths of the wolves ; but send sucli 
orders to the commanding officers at Fort Allen, &c., &c., 
that they may either keep the Indians arriving at any 
of the forts, or conduct them under proper convoy to 
Philadelphia, or where your Honor thinks most proper ; 
and let us know your pleasure, whether these Indians 
that came lately to Bethlehem, viz: Repe Nicodemus, 
&c., should not come to Philadelphia or any other place, 
Bethlehem being already so full and so crowded, that in 
most of our rooms we have been forced to lodge twenty 
or twenty-five persons, and seventy of our Indians to 
have lived all the winter in a small house, where they 
had but two rooms. 

I am your Honor's most 

Obedient and humble servant, 

TIMO. HORSEFIELD.* 

•Prov.Rec, 0. 181. 



108 HISTORY OF NORTHAMPTON COUNTY. 

Letter from Governor Morris to W. Parsons. 

Philadelphia, July 11, 1756. 

Sir — Having ordered the Indians at Bethlehem, and 
such other friendly Indians as shall come thither, to be 
removed to Easton,you will immediately make the ne- 
cessary preparations of houses and provisions for their 
reception, and at a certain time to be agreed upon for 
their removal, you will order an escort of the town of 
Bethlehem, to protect them on the road. 

While they remain at Easton, you will take care that 
the soldiers and officers keep strictly to their duty, that 
the guards and sentries are regularly relieved, and the 
arms kept in good order, and either discharged or drawn 
every other day ; and you will post them in such man- 
ner as will most effectually protect them from the insults 
of the people, and prevent any evil designs, in case they 
should not be so friendly as they pretend. 

The charges attending this service, you draw bills 
upon the commissioners for, sending them the necessary 
accounts ; and you will inform me from time to time, 
what is done in consequence of these orders. 
I am, your very 
Humble servant, 

ROBT. H. MORRIS.* 

Notwithstanding the Governor's orders to make pre- 
parations to remove the Indians from Bethlehem to 
Easton, there were still a considerable number at the 
former place, among the Brethren, as will appear from 
the following statement : 

The Governor mentioned to the" council, December 
6, 1756, that at his instance, Mr. Spangenberg had made 
out a list of the Moravian Brethren belonging to the 
Bethlehem Economy, and a state of their society in other 
parts of Ameri, cawhich was read ; and it appeared by 
Mr. Spangenberg's account, that at this time (December 
1756) there are at Bethlehem jive hundred and ten 

'Prov. Rec, 0. 183. 



HISTORY OF NORTHAMPTON COUNTY. 109 

persons, besides ninety-six children, some orphans and 
others, belonging to some Brethren.and friends, who are 
not of the Bethlehem Economy. 

That Bethlehem makes out a certain Religious Society, 
Hitended for the furtherance of the Gospel, as well 
among the heathens as christians. Forty-eight of the 
above mentioned Brethren and Sisters are actually em- 
ployed for that end among the heathens, not only on the 
continent of America, as Pennsylvania, New England, 
Barbice, Surinam, &c. ; but also in several Islands, as St. 
Thomas, Croix, Jamaica, &c. 

Besides those mentioned just now, there are fifty-four 
of them employed in Pennsylvania, New York, New 
England, Jersey and Carolina governments, in preaching 
the Gospel, keeping schools and the like. Sixty -two of 
them are merely employed in the education of our chil- 
dren at Bethlehem and Nazareth, as attendants and tu- 
tors. Forty-five single men, and eight couples of mar- 
ried people are gone to Carolina, to make a new settle- 
ment there, and fifty more who are come for that end 
from Europe, will go there soon. 

There are seventy-two of the above mentioned Breth- 
ren in holy orders, viz : Four Bishops, twelve Ordina- 
ries, (Priests) and the rest Deacons, and as many Jicolu- 
thi, who are preparing lor the ministry in the congrega- 
tion, and now and then made use of like Deacons. 

About ninety of the children at Bethlehem and Naza- 
reth, have their parents abroad, mostly on the Gospel's 
account. Four hundred and twenty-five of those in the 
foregoing list are under age. Not all who are named 
m this catalogue, live in Bethlehem township, but some 
m Sacona, some in Licky, and some in another town- 
ship, adjoining Bethlehem township. 

'Fhere are eighty-two Indians besides those young In- 
dian women, who live with our young women, and 
besides the savages, who are going and coming, and 
staying longer or shorter with us. * 

•Provincial Records, P. pa. 109. 



CHAPTEE IX. 

LEHIGH COUNTY. 

Lehigh County was separated from Northampton 
county by an act of Assembly passed the 6th March, 
1812. The act defines the boundaries as follows: 

" That all that part of Northampton county, lying and 
being within the limits of the following townships, to 
wit : The townships of Lynn, Heidleburg, Lowhili, 
Weissenburg, Macungie, Upper Milford, South White- 
hall, Northampton, Salisbury, Upper Saucon, and that 
part of Hanover township within the following bounds, 
lo wit : Beginning at Bethlehem line where it joins the 
Lehigh river ; thence along the said line until it intersects 
the road leading from Bethlehem to the Lehigh Water 
Gap ; thence along said road to Allen township line : 
thence along the line of Allen township, westwardly, to 
the Lehigh, shall be, and the same are hereby, according 
to their present lines, declared to be erected into a 
county, henceforth to be called Lehigh." 

This county is bounded on the nort-west by the Kitta- 
tiniiy, or Blue mountains, separating it from Schuylkill 
and Carbon counties, north-east by Northampton, south- 
east by Bucks, and south-west by Montgomery and 
Berks counties. The physical appearance of the country 
is diversified. The surface is generally level, in some 
places rolling, in others rugged and somewhat broken. 
The lofty Kittatinny on the north, gives that portion its 
peculiar features. The Lecha Hill, or South mountain 
crosses the south-east portion of the county, which gives 
tiie country a rugged surface. This mountain range is 
of primmy formation, abounding with iron ore. Be- 
tween the South and Blue mountains, is the fertile Kit- 
tatinny valley, perhaps unsurpassed in agricultural 
wealth, being highly cultivated by an industrious class 



HISTORY OF LEHIGH COUNTY. Ill 

of our worthy fellow citizens, Germans by descent, 
whose habits of industry and frugality they retain. 

Perhaps few counties in the state, are more pictur- 
esque and varied than Lehigh. The valley portion of 
the county is nearly equally divided between the lime- 
stone and clay slate formation. 

"The most important productions are those of agri- 
culture. In a fertile region like this, an industrious popu- 
lation naturally looks to the tillage of the soil, as their 
surest dependence for support and profit. Considerable 
progress has, however, been made in innny branches of 
manufacturing industry, and the developement of the 
mineral resources of the country has not been neglected. 
The iron ore of this region supplies material for the 
operation of several furnaces, viz : The Crane Iron 
Works, Stephen Balliet's Furnace, Hunter's & Miller's 
P\unace, and Ibach's Forge. The Crane Works, of a 
very lage size, are constructed expressly to smelt ii'on 
with anthracite coal, by means of the hot blast. 

The county is well watered by the Lehigh river and 
its numerous tributaries, viz: Antelauny, or Maideii 
creek, Caply, or Balliet's, Trout, Jordan, Cedar, Calada- 
que, Pcrkiomen, and Little Lehigh creeks ; Crowner's^ 
Linn, Willow and Sinking runs. 

The Lehigh river, called Leckhaw, by the Indians, 
signifying JVest Branch, is a branch of the Delaware, 
it rises in Wayne, Pike and Luzerne counties, but its 
various tributaries unite uear Stoddartsville,on the north- 
western border of Monroe county, and as the stream 
Hows onward, it augments by receiving the waters of 
many mountain creeks; and in its course of twenty-five 
miles, it makes, at the mouth of Wright's Mill creek, a 
turn nearly south ; and after stealing a serpentine course 
of twenty miles, it reaches, by way of Mavich Chunk,, 
Lehighton. Here it dellects to the south-east, and pur- 
sues that direction twenty-five miles, to Allentown, when 
it turns at an angle of one hundred and twenty or more 
degrees to the Lehigh Hills, flows hard by Bethlehem, 
and twenty-five miles below, reaches the Delaware river. 
In its course it receives, within Carbon county, from the 



1 12 HISTORY OF LEHIGH COUNTr. 

west side, Quacake creek, Nesquehoning, Mauch Chunk, 
Mahoning and Lizard creeks; from the east. Bear creek, 
Big creek, formed of Heed's creek, Poko-po-poko, 
Aquanshicola ;* from Lehigh county, Trout creek, Jordan 
creek, Little Lehigh, Hockyondaque, Mill creek, or 
Caladaque, Monokacey ; in Northampton county, from 
the south, Saucon creek, besides some small runs.t 

The Lehigh may, with much propriety, by called, " Ji 
Mountain Torrent T It rushes headlong when swollen, 
and sweeps every impeding obstacle. The fall of the 
river is, from Stoddardsville, to the mouth of the Nes- 
quehoning creek, about two miles above Lausanne, and 
three above Mauch Chunk, 845 feet ; from Nesqueho- 
ningto the Lehigh Water Gap, 260 feet ; from the Gap 
to Easton, 205 feet. Thus in a°comparative course, of 
less than seventy miles, it has a fall of thirteen hundred 
and ten feet. From Easton to tide water, in the Dela- 
ware river at Trenton, the stream falls about one hun- 
dred feet, The Lehigh at Stoddartsville, is therefore 
elevated 1410 feet above the level of the ocean. 

The navigation of the river has been much improved. 
In its natural state, the Lehigh was navigable for boats 
carrying fifteen tons, as far as Lausanue, at the foot of 
the Broad mountain, when a rocky rapid just above the 
Turnhole, called Hatchetooth Falls^ improved the as- 
cending navigation. When the river was low — in 
August and September — boats with loading could not 
ascend further than Allentown. 

The navigation of the Lehigh was improved princi- 
pally by the exertions of Messrs. Josiah White and 
Erskine Hazard, who obtained, March 20, 1818, from 
the Legislature an act to authorize them to commence 
their operations." 

The improvements made by the Lehigh Coal and 
Navigation Company, are of great advantage to this 
county, by affording a cheap and ready means of trans- 

*In the Provincial Records, in the Secretary's office atHarrisburg, 
Che name of ihis stream is written Aquanshehals. Kecord of Char- 
ters and Indian Deeds, p. 128. 

f For an account of small streams, see description of townships. 



HISTORY OF LEHIGH COUNTY. 113 

porting produce and merchandize, as well as consid- 
erable home market. By this navigation a surplus of 
provisions, flour, hay, &c., is carried to Mauch Chunk, 
and to the timber region higher up. And that des- 
tined for Philadelphia is sent by way of Easton, and 
thence by canal to Bristol and Philadelphia. Mer- 
chandize is brought back in return. 

In this connection, is presented an attempt to de- 
scribe a stupendous work of nature, namely: 

Die Lecha IVasser-Kaft, i. e. the Lehigh Water 
Gap, in the Kittatinny, or Blue mountain, the divid- 
ing line between Carbon county and that of Lehigh 
and Northampton, is so named from the river Lehigh, 
which steals its way through the Gap, prominently 
walled on both sides, forms a sublime object of admi- 
ration, and presents to the observant spectator, one 
of the most picturesque prospects in east Pennsylva- 
nia. At almost every season of the year, the diversi- 
fied defile is exceedingly attractive. The writer 
visited this place in September, 1844. In ascending 
the eastern bank some hundred feet, the scene height- 
ens in grandeur, and the stream — the beautiful, yet 
curling, rippled waters of the Lehigh river, add much, 
nay every thing, to make it impressive beyond obliv- 
ion. Though it is seemingly a rugged stream here, yet 
Tis you follow it in its course, through a fertile region of 
country, receiving tributaries of different seizes, until 
itself is a considerable river, before it reaches its 
silvery recipient, the Delaware. It is in all its ways, 
as well as at the Gap, where it rolls majestically over 
a rupic bed, and reflecting a sombre shade of the im- 
pending mountains, a grand stream. 

To return to the Gap. The eastern bank is 
bordered for the distance of about a mile by craggy 
difl's, towering to an amazing height, and of forms the 
most bizarre. Between which wall of rocks and the 
river the road winds along. Hastenhig to leave these 
black abodes, which seem to afford shelter to none 
but the ravenous beasts of the forest, the Lehigh ap- 
pears eagerly moving on towards the fertile low 
H 



! 14 HISTORY 0F LEHIGH OOUWTY. 

lands, which succeed in view, on the eastern bank. 
Ascending the eastern height, the traveller is am- 
ply rewarded for the exertion of climbing from rock to 
rock, in scaling the pine covered side of the mountain, 
by the rich and extensive prospect which the eye 
then commands. At iiis feet roll the waters of the 
majestic stream — on the opposite side is a towering 
ridge, near the summit of which appears, right oppo- 
site, emerging from the surrounding woods, a lonely 
pile of rocks, whimsically called, ^^ Die TcnfeVs Kan- 
zel'' i. e. " The D^'viPs Pulpit,'' which indignantly 
suffers but a few blasted pines to shade its sullen brow. 
\t a distance an extensive country, variegated with 
woods and farms, watered by the meandering Lehigh, 
and ridge retiring behind ridge, till lost in the faint 
tints of the horizon, all biu'sts upon the sight, and fill 
the mind witli sublime ideas of the greatness of the 
Creator. Tiie shattered rocks, thrown together in wild 
confusion, and the strata of rounded stones, which 
ire to be met with in passing through the Gap, have 
given rise to the supposition that the Lehigh, being 
obstructed in its course by the Blue mountain, was 
'brmerly dammed up into a lake, wiiich at length 
bursting the barrier, ibrmed the cliasnj now called the 
Lehigh Gap. Tlie learned have not agreed, as yet, 
ai the decision of this mooted point. 

A learned writer says : ^' \l is common to speak 
of such passes as being formed by the rivers, which 
ire often supposed to have burst llieir barriers, and 
ihus to have shaped their own channels. This may 
have happened in some peculiar cases, and there are 
loubtles many instances where the lakes, of which 
aiany nuist have been left at the retiring both of the 
primeval and of the diluvial ocean, have worn or 
burst away their barriers, especially when composed, 
.13 they must often have been, of loose materials. 
But with respect to most rocky passes of rivers 
mrough momitans, there appears no reason what- 
ever to believe that the waters have torn assunder 
the solid strat i. A more resistless energy must 



HISTORY OF LEHIdH GOCNTY, 115 

have been requisite for such an effect ; and we musi 
therefore conclude that the rivers have, in most in- 
stances, merely flowed on through the lowest and 
least obstructed passages. Their channels they have 
doubtless deepened and modified, often to an aston- 
ishing dergree but they have rarely formed them 
through solid rocks." — Silliman. 

The county is conveniently intersected by good 
roads — the streams are readily crossed by substantial 
bridges. The county is well supplied with mills. 
There are about seventy grist mills, fifty saw mills, 
seven oil mills, six woolen factories, and several full- 
ing mills, three powder mills and one paper mill in 
the county, besides thirty tanneries. 

The county is divided into the following townships, 
which are fully described in the sequel,viz : Hanover.. 
Heidelberg, Low Hill, Linn, Lovven, Macunjy, North- 
ampton, North Whitehall, Salisbury, South White- 
hall, Upper Milford, Upper Macunjy, Upper Saucon 
and Weissenberg. 

The population of this county was, in 1820, 17,175 ; 
in 1830,22,260; in 1840, 25,787. 

^ Tlie first court held in the county met in the pub- 
lic house, now kept by Mr. Craig, then kept by Mr. 
George Savitz. The court house was erected in 
1814. The jail had been previously built. The fol- 
lowing is an extract from the public records : 

At a Court of General Quarter Sessions of the 
Peace, began and held at the borough of Northamp- 
ton, for the county of Lehigh, on the 21st day of 
December, before the Hon. Robert, President, and 
the Hon. Peter Rhoads and Jonas Hartzell, Esq.. 
Associate Judges of the said Court. At the Novem- 
ber term, 1813. 

November 30. Court met at the house of George 
Savitz, and adjourned from thence to meet in the 
upper story of the county prison, prepared by the 
commissioners for holding the courts of the county of 
Lehigh, until the court house be erected. 



116 HISTORY OF LEHIGH COUNTY. 

Grand Jurors. Jacob Newhard, Sr., foreman : 
Zacharias Long, Casper Moyer, George Brush, Philip 
Kleckner, Andrew Eisenheart, Jonathan Knaiiss. 
George Yeahle, John Cromer, John Bergenstock, John 
Jerret, George Wenner, Adam Singmaster, Daniel 
Trexall, Frederick Hyneman, George Essing, Abra- 
ham Diehl. 

Lehigh iiaving been part of Northampton coimty. 
its early history is merged with that of the county from 
which it has been formed. In 17 98-' 9 9, scenes oc- 
curred of no ordinary degree, a principal part of which 
transpired in this county. 

Shortly after the election of John Adams, several 
arts were passed by Congress, which were obnoxious 
to a portion ol the people of East Pennsylvania, in 
consequence of which, Berks, Bucks and Northamp- 
ton, presented scenes of excitement. In Northampton, 
a party headed by one Fries, resisted attempts by 
the federal government to collect a direct tax — well 
known by the name of " the house taxP John 
Fries, a desperado, and his associates, not only resis- 
ted the assessors, but in hot pursuit chased them frorn 
township to township. It is said there were parties 
of them — fifty and sixty in number — most of them 
well armed. Fries himself was armed with a large 
horse pistol, and accompanied by one Kuyder, who 
assisted him in command. They seized several as- 
sessors. 

In some parts of the counties named, in demonstra- 
tion of their opposition to government, they erected 
liberty poles. To quell the insurrection, troops, in 
obedience to Adams' instruction, were raised in Lan- 
caster county. Several companies marched from 
Lancaster, April 1, 1799 ; wending their yrowi toward 
the arena of dispute, by way of Heading, when Cap- 
tain Montgomery's troop of light horse arrived or: 
the evening of the 1st of April. Their first act, to 
display their prowess and gallantry, was to go clan- 
destinely to the house of Jacob Gosin, who, in tht 
spirit of the times, had erected a liberty pole oo his 



HISTORY OP LEHIGH COUNTY. 117 

own premises, which they cut, without meeting any 
resistance. 

To give undoubted proof of tlieir daring bravery, 
they brandished their damascene weapons — drew 
pistols, to show that they were armed, in the house 
of the inoffensive father, whose minor children were 
scared "half to death," at the marshal mancEUvers of 
the Lancaster troops. 

To let no time slip, and while they were undaunt- 
ed, they proceeded from Gosin's to the house of 
John Strohecker, whither their eagle eyes were drawn 
by a recently erected pole, tipped with a rag, " flap- 
ping in the breeze." This pole, to show the inde- 
pendence of some sturdy urchins, had been erected 
by some children, in which Strohecker's were ring- 
leaders. To deter these young heroes, the solders 
took down the pole, stripped it of its insignia — entered 
the house where they found the little wights — and as 
they did at Gosin's, so did they here — brandished 
weapons of war — presented pistols and swords to the 
youthful company, to no small alarm of both parents 
and children ! ! 

To consummate their martial plans and designs, 
they molested the house of Jacob Epler — maltreated 
him unprovokedly. Like bravos ever merit — these 
merited the contempt of all reflecting persons — render- 
ing themselves obnoxious to the orderly and well 
disposed among all classes. 

Satisfied of having rendered their country some 
service, the troop next morning started for Northamp- 
ton, to fully execute the specific purpose of their mis- 
sion. This done, they again returned by way of 
Reading, where they entered the office of the 
"•/^f/Zer," a paper edited and printed by Jacob 
Schneider, whom they rudely denuded, by violently 
tearing his clothes from his body, in a somewhat in- 
clement season, and by force of arms, dragged him 
before the commanding captain, who peremptorily 
ordered the editor, for writing and printing some of- 
fensive articles, to be whipped; "Twenty-five lashes," 



il8 HisToar of lehioIs couNTr. 

said he, "shall be well laid on his denuded back, in the 
market house" — which order was, however, not ex- 
ecuted, because of the timely and manly interposition 
of some gentlemen of Captain Leiper's company, of 
Philadelphia. A few lashes, however, had been in- 
flicted before these men had time to fully interpose — 
these were laid on by one accustomed to beat, when 
little resistance is to be dreaded — he was a drummer ! 

Colonel Epler, who it appears, had by this time 
erected, by the assistance of his neighbors, a Hberti/ 
pole in place of the pole erected by his children — 
thither the soldiery resorted, where they attempted to 
compel a common laborer to cut down the "offen- 
sive wood," notwithstanding that he protested against 
doing so, at the same time, on most solemn assevera- 
tions, declaring he was also a federalist — Ich binauch 
ein Federalihr liebe Lent ; das bin. Ja ich auch ein 
Federal ! 

They succeeded in divesting the pole, and with it 
appended as a trophy, thej'- rode, vociferating as they 
Avent through the streets of Reading, to their place of 
quarters. In a few days they left ; but on the 24th 
of April, an army, under the command of Brigadier 
General McPherson, arrived at Reading, apprehend- 
ing some of the insurrectionists, who were afterwards 
tried before Judge Peters — some found guilty — some 
were fined and imprisoned — some were condemned 
to be capitally punished, but none attoned with their 
lives — they were pardoned through executive clem- 
ency ! 

The following extracts are taken from the repon 
of the trial of John Fries, and others, for treason : 

A grand Jury was empanelled, consisting of the 
following gentlemen, namely : J. Ross, Joseph Parker, 
Robert Ralston, John Perat, Daniel Smith, Edward 
Pennington, Benjamin W. Morris, John Craig, Davifi 
H. Conyngham, Gideon Hill Wells, Wm. Mont- 
gomery, Philip Nicklin, Thos. M. Willing, Samuel 
Coates, T. C. Fisher, William Buckley. A true bili 
found. 



HISTORY OF X-EHIGH COUNTY. 119 

May 15, 1799. Mr. Setgreaves, of Easton, opened 
the trial on the part of the United States. The fol- 
lowing are extracts from his speech: 

" It will appear, gentlemen, Crom the testimony 
which will be presented to you, t'lat during the latter 
months of the year 1798, discords prevailed to an 
enormous extent throughout a large portion of the 
counties of Bucks, Northampton, and Montgomery; 
and that considerable difficulties attended the asses- 
sors for the direct tax, in the execution of their 
duties — that in several townships associations of the 
people were actu tlly formed in order to prevent the 
persons charged with the execuiion of these laws of 
the United States, from performing their duty, and 
more particularly to prevent the assessors from 
measuring their houses. This opposition was made 
at many public township meetings, called for the pur- 
pose. In many instances resolutions in writing were 
entered into, solenuily forewarning the officers, and 
many times accompanied with threats. Not only so, 
but discontents prevailed to such a height, that even 
the friends of the government in that part were com- 
pletely suppressed by menaces against any who 
should assist those officers in their duty ; repeated 
declarations were made, both at public as well as at 
private meetings, that if any person should be arrested 
by the civil authority, such arrest would be followed 
by the rising of the people, in opposition to that au- 
thority, for the purpose of rescuing such prisoners ; 
indefatigable pains were taken, by those charged 
with the execution of the laws, to calm the fears and 
remove the misapprehensions of the infatuated peo- 
ple ; for this purpose they read and explained the 
law to them, and informed them that they were mis- 
led into the idea that the law was not actually in 
force, for that it actually was ; at the same time 
warning them of the consequences which would flow 
from opposition ; and this was accompanied with 
promises that even their most capricious wishes would 
be gratified on their obedience. The favor was in 



?20 HISTORY OF LEHIGH COUNTY. 

many instances granted, that where any opposition 
was made to any certain person executing the office 
of assessor, another should be substituted. In some 
townships proposals were made for people to choose 
for themselves ; but, notwithstanding this accommo- 
dating offer, the opposition continued. The conse- 
quences were, actual opposition and resistance ; in 
some parts violence was actually used, and the asses- 
sors were taken and imprisoned by armed parties, 
and in other parts mobs assembled to compel them 
either to deliver up their papers or to resign their 
commissions ; that it\ some instances they were 
threatened with bodily harm, so that in those parts 
the obnoxious law remained unexecuted in conse- 
(luence. The state of insurrection and rebellion had 
arisen to such a height, it became necessary to com- 
pel the execution of the laws, and warrants were in 
consequence issued against certain persons and served 
upon them; in some instances, during the execution 
of that duty, the marshal met with insult and almost 
with violence; having, however, got nearly the whole 
of the warrants served, he appointed head-quarters 
for these prisoners to rendezvous at Bethlehem, 
where some of them were to enter bail for their ap- 
pearance in the city, and others were to come to the 
city in custody for trial. 

" On the day thus appointed for the prisoners to 
meet, and when a number of them had actually as- 
sembled, agreeably to appointment, a number of par- 
ties in arms, both horse and foot, more than a hun- 
dred men, accoutered with all their mihtary apparatus^ 
commanded in some instances by their proper otficers, 
marched to Bethlehem, collected before the house in 
which were the marshal and prisoners, whom they 
demanded to be delivered up to theni, and in conse- 
quence of refusal, they proceeded to act very little 
short of actual hostility ; so that the marshal deemed 
it prudent to accede to their demands, and the prisoners 
were liberated. 

" This, gentlemen, is the general history of the in- 



HISTORY OP LEHIGH COUNTY. 121 

surrectioii. I shall now state to you the part which 
the unfortunate prisoner at the bar took in those hos- 
tile transactions. The prisoner is an inhabitant of 
Lower Milford, Bucks county. Some time in Feb- 
ruary last, a public meeting was held at the house ol 
one John Kline, in that township, to consider this 
liouse tax ; at that meeting certain resolutions were 
entered into and a paper signed; (we have endeavored 
to trace this paper so as to produce it to the court and 
jury, but have failed.) This paper was signed by 
iifty-two persons, and committed to the hands of one 
of their number. John Fries was present at this 
meeting, and assisted in drawing up the paper, at 
which time his expressions against this law were ex- 
tremely violent, and he threatened to shoot one of the 
assessors, Mr. Foulke, through the legs, if he proceed- 
ed to assess the houses ; again the prisoner at a ven- 
due threatened another of the assessors, Mr. S. Clarke, 
that if he attempted to go on with the assessment, he 
should be committed to an old stable and there fed 
on rotten corn. The assessor in Lower Milford was 
intimidated so as to decline making the assessments, 
and the principal assessors, together with three other 
assessors, were obliged to go into that township to 
execute the law. At the house of Mr. Jacob Fries^ 
on the 5th March, Mr. Chapman, the assessor, met 
with the prisoner, who declared his determination 
not to submit, but to oppose the law, and that by 
next morning he could raise seven hundred men iii 
opposition to it." 

[Fries and his partisans continued to follow and 
persecute several of the assessors, chasing them from 
township to township, in parties of fifty or sixty, mosi 
of whom were in arms, with drum and fife. Fries 
was armed with a large horse pistol, and accompanied 
by one Kuyder, who assisted him in command. Thus 
equipped they went to Quakertown, seized two as- 
sessors, and attempted to fire at anotlier who ran 
away, but the fire-arm did not go off'. They ex- 
amined the papers of the assessors, and exacted a 



122 HISTORY OF LEHIGH COUNTY. 

promise that they should not proceed in the vahiation 
of the houses in Lower Miiford. They abused a 
traveller who had the independence to stand up for 
the government. At Quakertown, learning that the 
marshal had taken a number of prisoners, they re- 
solved to efiect their rescue, and the people of Miiford 
were invited to assist in this business, and a paper 
setting forth their design, was drawn up by Fries, at 
his own house, and signed by the party.] 

" On the morning ot' the next day, twenty or more 
of them met at the house of Conrad Marks, in arms. 
John Fries was armed with a sword, and had a 
feather in his hat. On tlie road as they went for- 
ward they were met by young Marks, who told them 
they miglit as well turn about, for that the Northamp- 
ton people were strong enough to do the business 
without those from Bucks county. Some were so 
inclined to do, but at the instance of Fries and some 
others, they did go forward, and actually proceeded 
to Bethlehem. Before the arrival of these troops, a 
parly going on the same business had stopped at the 
bridge near Bethlehem, where they were met by a 
deputation from the marshal, to advise them to return 
home ; they agreed to hault there, and send three of 
their number to declare to the marshal their demand. 
During this period Fries and his party came up, but 
it appears when th.-,y came, Fries took the party 
actually over the bridge, and he arranged the toll, and 
ordered them to proceed. With respect to the proof 
of the proceedings at l^ethlehem, it cannot be mis- 
taken ; he was tlien the leading man, and he appeared 
to enjoy theconmiand. With the consent of his peo- 
ple he demanded the prisoners of the marshal, and 
when that officer told him that he could not surrender 
them, except they were taken from him by force, and 
produced his warrant for taking them,th': prisoner then 
harraijgucd his party of the house, and explained to 
them the necessity o( using force; and that you should 
not mistake his design, we will prove to you that he 
declared ' that was the third day which he had been 



HISTOEF OF LEHIGH COUNTY. 123 

out on this expedition, that he had had a skirmish the 
day before, and if the prisoners were not released he 
should have another that day.' < Now yon observe,' 
resumed he, ' that force is necessary, but you must 
obey my orders. We will not go without taking the 
prisoners. But take my orders — you must not fire 
first; you must be first fired upon, and when I am 
gone you must do as well as you can, as I expect to 
be the first man that falls.' He further declared to 
the marshal that they would fire till a cloud of smoke 
prevented them from seeing each other, and exe- 
cuting the office of command of the troops, which at 
that time overawed the marshal and his attendants. 
He harangued the troops to obey his orders, which 
they did. The marshal was really intimidated to 
liberate the prisoners ; and then the object vi^as ac- 
complished, and the party dispersed amid the huzzas 
of the insurgents. After this affair at Bethlehem, the 
prisoner frequently avowed his opposition to the law, 
and justified that outrage; and when a meeting was 
afterwards held at Lower Milford to choose assessors, 
the prisoner refused his assent, and appeared as violent 
as ever." 

Most of the above statements were proved, includ- 
ing a variety of other details. Fries, alter two trials,, 
in both of which he was found guilty of treason, was 
sentenced to be hung, but was subsequently pardoned 
by John Adams. 

Several others from the same vicinity were tried, 
and generally found guilty of the subordinate 
crimes of sedition, insurrection, and riot; they were 
imprisoned for a time, and heavily fined, and held to 
bail for good'behavior. George Gittman and Fred- 
erick Hainey were also condemned for high treason.' 
Among the disaff'ected who had been taken prisoners 
by the marshal, and who were rescued by the insur- 
gents, was one Jacob Eyerman, a German minister, 
recently arrived from Germany. He seems to have 
exerted nearly as much influence as Fries, in stirring 
up the people in Chestnut Hill and Hamilton town- 



124 HISTORY OF LEHIGH COUNT V. 

ships, to opposition. History does not state to what 
sect he belonged, but the testimony would seem to 
show that he strongly flivored the " church militant." 

One of the assessors testified that while on his 
round of duty in Chestnut Hill township, " the prisoner 
(Eyerman) came in and began to rip out in a violent 
manner against this taxation, saying that Congress 
had made laws which were unjust, and the people 
need not take up with them ; if they did, all kinds of 
laws would follow ; but if they would not put up with 
this, they need not with those that would come after, 
because it was a free country ; but in case the people 
admitted of those laws, they would certainly be put 
under great burdens. He said he knew perfectly 
what laws were made, and that the President nor 
Congress had no right to make them. That Congress 
and the government only made such laws to rob the 
people, and that they were nothing but a parcel of 
damned rogues or '■spitz bube,' [highwaymen or 
thieves.] 

'' Were the people of the township much oppqj|ed 
to the law?" "Yes, they were so violent that I 
knew but one man on the same side as myself." 
'• Would this have been so if it had not been for the 
parson?" "I am fully convinced it would not." 
" Did Eyerman appear to be a simple sort of man, 
easily to be led astray or deluded ?" " No, he was 
not thought so ; he was always a very good preacher." 

Prisoner'. — " Did I not pray for the Government, 
President and Vice President ?" " Yes, you did when 
in the pulpit ; but when you were out, you prayed 
the other way." 

John Sneider deposed, that he lived 'in Hamilton 
township, and knew the prisoner — as much as he 
understood, the prisoner meant to take arms against 
it. He said if we let that go forward, it would go on 
as in the old country, but that he [Eyerman] would 
rather lay his black coat on a nail, and fight the 
the whole week, and preach for them Sundays, than 
that should be so. 



HISTORY OF LEHIGH COUNTY. 125 

"How long has this man been at Harailton?" 
*' About 18 months." 

-' The township was always peaceable, I suppose, 
before he came among you ?" " Yes, and believe if 
he had not come, nothing would have happened of 
the kind." 

Another witness said that the prisoner came to his 
house, where conversation began about the house tax, 
whereupon he said he did not care whether they put 
up with it or not, for he had no house to tax. A 
person present answered : But you have a great 
quantity of books to tax. The prisoner answered 
that " if anybody would offer to tax his books, he 
would take a French, a Latin, an Hebrew, and a 
Greek book down to them, and if they could not read 
them, he would slap them about their ears till they 
would fall to pieces." The prisoner continued 
preacher to that congregation until he was taken up. 

After the rescue, he fled to New York state, but 
was apprehended and brought back, and found guilty 
of conspiracy, &c., &c., was sentenced to be imprisoned 
one year, pay fifty dollars fine, and give security for 
his good behavior one year. About thirty others were 
convicted, and fined and imprisoned according to the 
degree of crime. — JDai/'s Historical Collection, 



CHAPTEE X. 

TOPOGRAPHY OF TOWNSHIPS, &c. 

Hanover totvnship is the only township in this 
county, east of the Lehigh river. It is bounded on 
the north, by Allen township; east, by Hanover and 
Bethlehem, and south, by Lehigh township — all of 
Northampton county; and south-west by the Lehigh 
river. The form of this township is very irregular. 
The surface is level ; limestone soil, of an excellent 
quality, well cultivated, and very productive, repay- 
ing the labor of the farmer richly. The Caladaque 
creek, which rises in Allen township, Northampton 
county, and running south-westwardly, running along 
the south-western boundary, through the north-east 
angle of this township, and following into the Lehigh 
river, about two miles below Hockendoque, affords 
some water-power, having several mills upon it. The 
Lehigh river affords an abundance of mill seats ; there 
are several grist and saw-mills, two woolen factories, 
and a paper-mill, in tliis township. 

The Allentown bridge, across Lehigh river, con- 
nects this township witii the borough of Allentown. 
Formerly, there was an elegant chain bridge over 
the Lehigh, consisting of two loops and two half 
loops, and suspended by four chains. That bridge 
was two hundred and thirty feet long and thirty 
wide. 

The population, in 1S20, was 866 ; in 1830, 1,102 ; 
in 1840, 1,.'j43. The county tax, levied in 1844, 
amounted to g70S S3 ; the state tax, S967 28. 

Biery^s Port, a post village, consisting of several 
dwellings, two taverns, one store, a grist mill, a Pres- 
byterian church, and the ('rane iron works, are in this 
township. 



HISTORY OP LEHIGH COUNTY. 127 

The iron works are owned by Messrs. White, Haz- 
zard, Mitchel, Erb, M'Caliister & Co.; are of a large 
size, and constructed expressly to smelt iron, witli 
anthracite coal, by means of the hot blast The water 
power is supplied from the Lehigh canal of the Lehigh 
Coal and Navigation Company, and the furnaces, 
with the blowing and air-heating apparatus, are con- 
structed in a superior manner. The works have 
been in successful operation since 1840, producing, 
at present, weekly, from one hundred and ninety to 
two hundred tons of castings of various kinds. The 
works are about three miles north of Allentown, and 
five from Bethlehem. 

Rittersville is a post village, consisting of five 
dwellings, one tavern, one store — a church, near it, is 
located hi a poor part of the township. 

Heidelberg township is bounded on the north-east 
by Carbon county; south-east, by North Whitehall 
township ; south, by Low Hill township, and west, 
by Linn township. The figure of it is very irregular. 
The surface is very hilly, being partly crossed by the 
Blue mountain ; the soil is white gravel, producing, 
if well cultivated, an abundant crop of rye. In the 
north-west corner of the township is a singular knob, 
called " Bake Oven Knob.^^ The township contains 
nine grist mills, seven saw mills, one furnace, owned 
by Stephen Balliet; one lulling mill, two woolen 
factories, one gun and rifle manufactory, several tan- 
neries, and ten or fifteen distilleries in operation. 

The township is drained by Trout creek, which 
rises at the foot of the Blue mountain, and running 
eastwardly, falls with the Lehigh, river, about two 
miles below the Water Gap, turning several mills, 
but not sufficiently large to be navigable. It is also 
drained by Jordan, rising at the loot of the Blue 
mountain, in this township, and running a very 
crooked course, towards the south-east, falling into 
the Little Lehigh creek, not more than one hundred 
perches from its mouth. The Jordan, and its various 



128 HISTORY OP LEHIGH COUNTY. 

branches, turn a great number of mills, but is not 
navigable. The waters of the Jordan are much 
affected by wet and dry seasons. Crowner's run is 
also one of the small streams that drains the town- 
ship; it rises about the centre of it, and flowing 
southwardly, unites with the Jordan creek, on the 
line between Low Hill and Whitehall townships. 

The population, in 1820, was 1,900; in 1830, 
2,208; in 1840, 2,354. Amount of county tax levied 
inl844,wasS770 5G ; state tax, ^1,067 59. In 1843, 
^20 52 was paid for the education of the poor. 

Segersville, a post village, about seventeen miles 
north-west from AUentown, near the line of the 
township, contains about twenty dwellings, one store 
and one tavern. The only churcb in the township 
is about two miles from the village. The country 
around the village is rough and broken. Agriculture 
needs some considerable attention being paid to it, 
before the farmer can count on ample and certain 
returns for his labor. 

Germansville, a small place, one store, owned by 
Nathan German. During the French and Indian 
war, in 1755 and 1756, the greater part of the in- 
habitants of this township had fled to Bethlehem and 
other places, for refuge, and to escape being inhu- 
manly butchered by the savage hordes who were 
marauding this region of country in search of human 
victims to glut their vengeance. In October, 1763, 
the inhabitants were again alarmed by the Indians 
committing cruel murders in an adjoining township. 
(See North Whitehall township.) 

North Whitehall toivnship is bounded on the 
north-east, by the Lehigh river, which seperates it 
from Northampton county ; on the south, by South 
Whitehall township ; on the west, by Low Hill town- 
ship, and north-west, by Heidelberg township. The 
surface is level ; limestone soil, rich, and generally 
pretty well cultivated. This township is singularly 



HISTORY OF LEHIGH COUNTY. 129 

mtersected by numerous roads, which centre in the 
main road, leading to Allentown. The Jordan creek 
and Coply creek, or BalUet's creek, are the principal 
streams draining the township, Coply creek rises in 
this township — running south-easterly, falls into the 
Lehigh river, about five miles above Allentown. In 
its course, it turns several mills. In dry seasons it 
fails much. This township contains seven grist mills, 
four saw mills, and a number of tanneries. There 
are two German Reformed and Lutheran churches 
in this township ; one near the north-western boun- 
dary, and the other, on the south, near Coply creek. 
The population of 1820, was 1,807; in 1830, 2,008; 
in 1840, 2,324. The county tax, assessed for 1844, 
was ^899 25; state tax, g 1,340 83. In 1843,^119 78 
were paid for the education of the poor. 

Siegersville is a small post village, consisting of 
five or six dwellings, one store, and one tavern. It 
is situated in a fertile and highly improved country. 

S?ii/de7'sville, owned by George Snyder, who is 
proverbially known as the "Keeper of the Drovers' 
Inn." The place consists of a small cluster of houses 
and several shops. Its situation, it is said, is peculiar 
— it is in and between, like "George," the village 
being both in North Whitehall and Upper Macunjy, 
having the boundary line passing through it. 

Kern's Mills. Here is a post office, a grist millj 
'one store, and several dwelling houses. 

Slate Dam. Here is a store and dwellings, owned 
by Reuben Sager. 

Before this township was separated, or divided into 
North and South Whitehall, the Indians committed 
depredations within its borders ; even at a time when 
it had been supposed all hostilities had ceased, a party 
of savages appeared on a sudden, in this township, 
and did some bloody work. " On the eighth of Octo- 
ber, 1763, a party of fifteen or twenty Indians, attack- 
ed the house of Nicholas Marks, of Whitehall town- 
ship. Marks, his wife, and an apprentice boy, made 



130 HISTORY OF LEHIGH COUNTY. 

their escape, though twice fired upon by the Indians^, 
and proceeded to the house of one Adam Fashler. 
Avhere there were twenty men mider arms. These 
immediately went in pursuit of the enemy. In their 
progress, they visited the farms of Jacob JNIeekiy, 
wiiere tliey found a boy and a girl lying dead, the 
girl scalped ; of Hans Schneider, where tliey discover- 
ed the owner, his wife, and three children dead in the 
field, and three girls, one dead, the other wo'dnded. 
and one of them scalped. On their return to Ashler's, 
they found the wife of Jacob Aliening, with a child, 
dead in the road, and scalped. The houses of Mark^ 
and Schneider, were both burnt."" 

South IVhitehall toivjiship is bounded on the north 
by North Whitehall township; east, by the Lehigh 
river, which separates it from Hanover township, and 
by Northampton township ; south, by Upper Macun- 
jy township. The surface is level ; limestone soil, 
very well cultivated, and abundantly productive, 
amply repaying the husbandman for the care bestow^, 
ed upon it in a judicious course of culture. 

This township is watered 'by Jordan creek, and 
Cedar creek. The latter rises from a large spring in 
Upper Macunjy township, and turns a large flour 
mill, about six perches below the fountain, and after 
a course of three miles, falls into the Little Lehigh. 
The volume of this singular stream appears invarir 
able in wet or dry weather. The long continued 
drought this summer, (1844) though afiecting all other 
streams, did not any the least diminish this stream. 
It never freezes, and the grass, which grows to the 
water's edge, appears green all seasons, and is always 
uncovered, the water dissolving the snow as it falls. 
Sinking Run is another remarkable stream ; it rises 
in Macunjy township, and flows easterly, through 
this township; it sinks into the ground about five 
miles from Allentown. It is supposed to have a 

*Proud's History of Pa. Appendix, p, 624. 



HISTORY OF LEHIGH COUNTY. 131 

subterraneous course of more than a mile southward, 
and to rise at the fountain of Cedar creek, in Upper 
Macunjy. 

Cavern Spring rises near the mouth of a Kmestone 
cavern, within two miles of the borough of Allentown; 
on the north-west is a large fountain, and pours its 
waters into the Jordan creek. This cavern has an 
entrance of ten or eleven feet high, and has been 
penetrated about one hundred feet, into the hill, to a 
stream of water. 

This township contains five grist mills, two saw mills, 
several tanneries, and a German Reformed and Lu- 
theran church, about four miles from Allen township. 
Ibach's forge is in this township. 

The population of this township, in 1820, was 
1,623; in 1830, 1,952 ; in 1840, 2,290. The amount 
of county tax, assessed in 1844, was il, 230 70; state 
tax, ^1,757 19. In 1843, ^244 42 were paid for the 
education of the poor. 

It appears that this township, and others, were 
overrun by the Indians, in 1763; for we find "that 
October 15th, 1763, Governor Hamilton called the 
attention of the Assembly to the sad condition of the 
settlers of Linn, Heidelberg, Whitehall, Macunjy, 
Salisbury and Upper Milford townships, of the county 
of Northampton, (now Lehigh.) Their houses were 
destroyed, their farms laid waste, barns, grain, fences. 
&.C. burnt to ashes — eighteen persons murdered." 

The persons who had been massacred, were unof- 
fending German immigrants, who had never molested 
an Indian. This excited the suspicion of the inhabi- 
tants, generally. The Indians were traced, by scout, to 
wigwams of the christian Indians, at Conestoga, and 
to those in Northampton county, which eventuated 
in the total extermination of the Indians, in Lancas- 
ter county, in December 1763. 

Linn township is bounded on the north, by Carbon 
county; east, by Heidelberg township; seuth, by 
Weissenberg ; south-west, by Berks county, and on 



132 HISTORY 0P LEHIGH COUNTY. 

the north-west, by Schuylkill county. The Blue 
mountain crossing the northern part of the township, 
the surface along it is hilly or greatly rolling ; a por- 
tion of the surface of this township is pretty level ; 
the soil is gravelly — agriculture may still be much 
improved, though many of the farms yield well. The 
free use of lime, as a stimulating manure, would 
greatly aid in improving the soil, and well repay a 
large per centage. 

This township is drained by the Antelauny, or 
Maiden creek, which rises here and flows into the 
Schuylkill river, through Berks county. Linn run, 
which rises in this township, near the south-west 
boundary, is a tributary of the Jordan creek. The 
sources of the Antelauny and Linn run, almost inter- 
mingle. These streams afford an abundance of mill 
seats ; there are, in this township, ten grist mills, five 
saw mills, one woolen factory, one powder mill, and 
three German Reformed and Lutheran churches; 
also several small villages. This township, and Alba- 
ny, in Berks county, formed a portion of ^dllemaen- 
gel, in days past. 

Linnville is a small post village, about seventeen 
miles north-west of Allentown, consisting of a few 
dwellings, one store and one tavern. 

New Tripoli, a post village, about fifteen miles 
from Allentown, consists of severt^l houses. 

Jacksonville is a post village, in the northern part 
of tlie township, about eiLhteen miles from Allen- 
town. The population of this township, in 1S20, was 
1,664; in 1830, 1,747; in 1840, 1,895. The county 
tax, assessed in 1844, was $741 03; the state tax, 
$1,012 85. In 1843, $49 02, were paid for the edu- 
cation of the poor. 

This region of country, of which this township con- 
stitutes a part, was settled at a comparatively early 
period, settlements having been made about the year 
1735. In February, 1756, the Indians committed a 
number of cruel murders upon the German settlers. 



HISTORy OP LEHIGH COUNTY. 133 

On the 14th of February, 1756, the Indians surprized 
the inmates of the house of Frederick Reichelsderfer, 
shot two of his children, set his house and barn on 
fire, and burnt up all his grain and cattle. Thence, 
they proceeded to the house of Jacob Gerhart, where 
they killed one man, two women, and six children. 
Two of the children had slipped under the bed, one 
of which was burned; the other escaped, and ran a 
Eiiile, to get to the people. 

On the 24th of March, following, ten wagons went 
to Aliemaengel, to bring a family, with their eflects, 
away ; and as they were returning, about three miles 
below one George Zeislotf 's, they were fired upon by 
a number of Indians from both sides of the road, 
upon which the wagoners left their wagons and ran 
into the woods, and the horses, frightened at the firing 
and terrible yelling of the lu'hans, ran down a hill, 
and broke one of the wagons to pieces. The enemy 
killed George Zeislotf and his wife, a young man of 
twenty, a boy of twelve, also a girl of fourteen years 
old, four of whom they scalped.*" 

Low Hill township is bounded on the north, by 
Heidelberg township ; on the east, by North White- 
hall ; on the south, by Macunjy, and on the west, by 
Weissenberg township. The surface is hilly, and in 
some places rolling ; the soil is principally white 
gravel ; the state of agriculture is improving ; many 
of the farms are rendered productive by a judicious 
course of crops, and strict attention to manuring. 
Lime, if judiciously applied, would greatly improve 
this kind of soil. 

This township is watered by Jordan creek, and 
several of its tributaries — such as Linn run, Crowner's 
run, which rises in Heidelberg township, near its 
centre, and flows southwardly, through this township, 
and Willow run — all these streams afford mill seats. 

-^ * Letter from Valentine Probst, to Jacob Levan, Esq., Feb. 15,. 
1756. See history of Berks county, p. 58, 123, 124. 



134 HISTORY OF LEHIG^ COUNTY. 

The township contains ten grist mills, five saw mills, 
several oil mills^ and two clover mills. 

Clanseville is q^ite a neat little post village, con- 
sisting of a few dwellings and a store. It is the only 
village in the township. 

The population of the township, in 1820, was 703; 
in 1830, 808; in 1840, 854. The county tax, for 
1844, amounted to $238 35; state tax, $354 71. In 
1843, $49 02 were paid for educating the poor. 

Upper Macunjy. This township and Lower Ma- 
cungy, have, within the last ten or twelve years, been 
divided. They were formerly known as Macunjj/ 
township. 

This township is bounded on the north-east, by 
South Whitehall ; on the south, by Lower Macunjy; 
and on the north-west, by Weissenberg. The sur- 
face is generally very level ; the soil limestone, care- 
fully cultivated and abundantly productive. Both 
Upper and Lower Macungy are densely populated. 
This township alone, had, in 1840, a population of 
nearly 1800, and it may now exceed two thousand. 
It is drained by the Little Lehigh creek and its nu- 
merous tributaries. Shantz's Spring, the head of 
Cedar creek, is in this township. Cedar Spring is 
remarkable for its strength and uniformity, as to 
quantity of water. Only a few rods below its foun- 
tain, it turns a large flouring mill. In its course, which 
is only three miles, it propels three mills, viz : Butt's, 
Knaus' and Martz's — these fall into Mr. Edleman's 
mill dam, on the Little Lehigh. North-west from 
Schantz's Spring, is a stream, which, after a course 
of three miles, sinks into the earth. It is conjectured 
by many, that this stream forms the Cedar creek 
fountain. The volume of water of Shantz's Spring 
is invariable in wet and dry, and it never freezes 
over. 

There are two grist mills and two saw mills in this 
township ; also several tanneries. 

The population, in 1840, was 1,769. The amount 



HISTORY OF LEHIGH COUNTY. 135 

ofcounty tax, in 1844, $1,032 48; state tax, $1,6 16 32. 
In 1843, $68 35 were paid towards educating the 
poor. 

Foglesville, a post village, at the junction of the 
Allentown and Millerstown road, nine miles from 
Allentown, consists of sixteen dwellings, one store, 
one tavern, a school house, a German Reformed and 
Lutheran church, situated in a rich and fertile country. 

Trexlerstoicn, a neat post village, eight miles from 
Allentowii, on the road to Kutztown, Berks county. 
It con-tains sixteen or eighteen dwellings, two taverns, 
one store, a Lutheran and German Reformed <}hurch. 
The country around it is Avell improved. 

Lower Macunjy. This, and Upper Macunjy town- 
ships, were, until the last ten or twelve years, known 
as Macunjy toivnship. It is bounded on the north, 
by Upper Macungy; north-east, by Salisbury, (Sals- 
berg ; ) on the south-east, by Upper Milford township ; 
south-west, by Berks county. The surface of the 
township is level, and of th^ best limestone soil ; well 
improved, and very productive ; yiekls a rich recom- 
pense to the industrious tarmer, for labor bestowed in 
tilling the soil. This part of Lehigh county is densely 
settled. Small as the territory of this county is, the 
population, in 1840, exceeded two thousand, and may 
now reach twenty-five hundred. The township is 
drained by the Little Lehigh creek. It has six grist 
mills, three saw mills, one oil mill, and five or six 
stores. 

The population, in 1840, was 2,156. The county 
tax, for 1844, amounted to $1,257 47; state tax, 
$1,761 89. In 1843, there were $194 Ge paid towards 
educating the children of poor persons, besides a 
quota of $24 99, jointly paid by this and Upper Mil- 
ford township. 

Millerstown, or MilhrsviUe, is a post village, at 
the foot of the Lehigh Hills, or South mountain, on 
a small branch of the Lehigh, nine miles from Allen- 



136 HISTORY OF LEEIGH COUNTY. 

town. The village consists, of about forty dwellings, 
three taverns, four stores, a Lutheran and German 
Reformed church ; also a " Free Hall," for all reli- 
gious denominations. 

This village is remarkable as one of the places dis- 
tinguished for opposition to collecting a direct tax, 
by the federal government, in 1798, '99 — '■'■In dtn 
Schreckens Zeiten.'" Here Mr. Daniel Schwartz, 
and others, made resistance.* 

Breinigsville, is a post village, on the road from 
Allentown to Reading, consisting of same half dozen 
of houses, one store, one tavern. Near it is an exten- 
sive iron ore mine. The ore is so highly charged 
with sulphuret of iron, as to be advantageously used 
for the manufacture of copperas. Considerable quan- 
tities of it are transported to Piiiladelphia, by canal, 
for this purpose. 

Upper Mllford is bounded on the north-east by 
Salisbury township and Upper Saucon, south-east by 
Bucks county, on the west by Montgomery and 
Berks counties, and north-west by Lower Macunjy 
township. It forms almost a square. The surface of 
this township is considerably diversified, but general- 
ly hilly, and in some places very rugged or broken, 
being crossed by the South Mo-untain, sending forth 
spurs, especially towards the south. Iron ore 
abounds on the mountain. The soil is principally 
gravel and red shale, and upon the whole, pretty well 
cultivated, and more than ordinarily productive ; it 
is watered by a branch of the Perkiomen and Upper 
Saucon creeks. The north branch of the Perkiomen 
rising in this township, flows by a southren course, 
(uniting with the east branch in Perkiomen township.. 
Montgomery county) for about thirty miles, through 
Montgomery county, and falls into the river Schuyl- 
kill, above Pawling's Ford, six miles above Norris- 
town. Upper Saucon creek, rising in this township* 

* See Verhoer vou John Fries, &c. p. 2S3^ 



HISTORY OF LEHIGH COUNTY. 137 

and running north-eastwardly, falls into the Lehigh 
river on the south side, about two miles below Free- 
mansburg, in Northampton county. These streams 
afford many good mill seats. This township contains 
seven grist mills, six saw mills, one fulling mill, one 
oil mill, two powder mills, several tanneries, and a 
few distilleries, and one furnace, owned by Messrs. 
Hunter and Miller. There are two churches in this 
township, and several villages. 

Scheimersville, is a post village, consisting of five 
dwellings, one tavern and a store. 

Dillinger's. Here is a post-office, a few dwellings, 
a store and a tavern. 

The population of this township was, in 1820, 
2,416; in 1830,2,829; in 1840, 3,071. The amount 
of county tax levied in 1844, was ^1,548 44; state 
tax, $2,293 91. In 1843, $195 97,* were paid for edu- 
cating children of poor persons. 

Weissenbu7'g toivnship is bounded on the north- 
east by Low Hill township, on the south-east by 
Macunjy, and on the south-west by Maxatany 
township in Berks county, and north-west by Linn 
township. The surface is hilly, and in some places 
broken; soil gravelly, but pretty well improved. 
The assessed value of land ranges from $20 to $25 
per acre. 

This township is drained by Jordan creek and its 
tributaries. Willow run, and Linn run, which afibrd 
considerable water power. There are here six grist 
mills and three saw mills. There are two churches 
in this township ; one is located in the Forks of Willow 
run. 

Mount Pleasant, the only village in the township, 
is six miles from Foglesville, consisting of several 
dwellings, one store and a tavern. 

The population of this township in 1820, was 

•Besides a quota of §24 99, paid by Lower Macunjy and Up- 
per Milford. 



138 HISTORY OP LEHIGH COUNTY. 

1,175; in 1830, 1,285; 1840, 1,427. The amoimt 
olf county tax levied in 1844, was S425 54 ; state tax, 
$586 10. In 1843, ^92 94, were paid towards edu- 
cating the poor. 

The inhabitants of this township, with those of 
Berks county, in this region, were repeatedly alarmed 
by the incursions of the hostile Indians during the 
French and Indian war, from 1755 to 1763. Their 
hopes and fears were alternately excited ; for the 
Indians committed several murders through this and 
adjacent townships, immediately north. 

In 1798 and 1799, when the inhabitants of North- 
ampton county opposed the collecting of a direct tax 
by the general government, the fears of the people of 
this township were again greatly excited. 

Upper Saucon township is bounded on the north- 
east by Lower Saucon, Northampton county, east by 
Bucks county, south-west by Upper Milford town- 
ship, and north-west by Salisbury township. The 
surlace is diversified ; the Lehigh hills or South 
mountain occupies the northern part, and its spurs 
extend to the southern boundary. The valleys are 
limestone, and the whole under cultivation. The 
farms are highly improved, and the houses and barns, 
as viewed from the " Mammoth Rock," in Salisbury 
township, make an imposing appearance. Iron ore 
abounds in the hills and mountains. It is drained by 
the Saucon creek, which runs through it in an eastern 
direction, towards the Lehigh river. This stream af- 
fords several mill seats. This township contains six 
grist mills, eight saw mills, three oil mills, one clover 
mill, and several tanneries. 

The Spring House and Bethlehem turnpike road 
passes north and south through it. There are several 
churches in tliis township. Lately a cave has been 
discovered called "Erdman's Cave." It has been 
but partially explored. It is said there is a fine 
stream of water in it. 

Freyslown, or Frei/sburg, consisting of a few 



HISTORY OF LEHIGH COUNTY. 139 

dwellings and a store, on the turnpike, near the 
south-east boundary, is the only village in this town- 
ship. 

The population in 1820, was 1,642 ; in 1830, 1,905 ; 
in 1840, 2,072. The amount of county tax levied for 
1844, was 8667 68 ; state tax, ^986' 83. In 1843, 
$162 14, were paid towards educating paupers. 

Saiisbuty township, (some times written Saltzberg, 
or Salsberg,) is bounded on the north by Northamp- 
ton township and the Lehigh river, on the east by 
Lower Saucon, Nortliampton county, south-east by 
Upper Saucon, south-west by Upper JNIilford and 
Lower Macunjy, and north-west by Whitehall 
township. The surface of the country is rolling ; 
the greater part limestone soil of the first rate quality, 
and very well cultivated. The South mountain, in 
which iron ore abounds, runs along its south-eastern 
boundary, at the foot of which is a small village, 
called Smithsville, about two miles south-east from 
Allentown. This township is drained by the Little 
Lehigh creek, and one of its tributaries, whicli 
propel, in the township, three grist mills and two saw 
mills. 

Numerous and interesting as the natural curiosities 
in this country are, there is none that so amply repays 
the adventurer as the Big, or Mamynoih Rock, on 
the Lehigh hills, or South mountain, in this town- 
ship. It is about three miles south-east from Allen- 
town, and a jaunt to the hills forms a pleasant hour's 
walk. The Rock is easily ascended, though elevated 
a thousand or twelve hundred feet above the sur- 
rounding country. The spectator, while standing on 
this rupic eminence, has a commanding view of one 
of the most variegated sceneries imaginable. As far 
as the eye can reach, except on the north, where the 
vision is bounded by the Blue mountain, are spread 
before the eye, well cultivated farms, dotted with 
buildings ; and the scene is greatly enlivened by the 
limpid stream of the Lehigh, as it winds its way 



140 HISTORY OP LEHIGH COUNTY. 

down the Kittatinny valley. On the south, east and 
west, lie before you as a lawn, Saucon, with its rich 
limestone farms. Language fails to deliniate the 
scenery with any degree of graphic accuracy. 

The population of this township, in 1820, was 
1,165 ; in 1830, 1,342 ; in 1840, 1,438. The amount 
of county tax levied for 1844, was $844 SO ; state 
lax, $1,316 03. 

E7naus is a post village at the foot of the South 
mountain, built on one street, and is about five miles 
south-west from AUentown. The town contains 
about twenty-five dwellings, a store and church. The 
following, touching this place, is from the pen of the 
Twelve Vieivs of the churches, schools, &c., &c., of 
the United Brethren in America : 

" This settlement (Emaus,) where a congregation 
of the United Brethren was regularly organized in 
1747, is situated near the Lehigh mountains, eight 
miles from Bethlehem. 

" The first place of worship was built in 1742, the 
second in 1766, botii of wood, and the third, which 
is the present church, in 1833. The present number 
of souls belonging to this congregation is one hun- 
dred and thirty, (in 1836) of whom eighty are com- 
municants." 

Northampton township. This is a small town- 
ship which surrounds the borough of AUentown. 
Portions of the surface is generally undulating, but the 
greater part is level, the soil is limestone, and very 
highly improved. When speaking of AUentown,* the 
springs &c., are noticed. In 1830, the population was 
213, and 1840, 293. In 1844, the amount of county 
tax levied, was $179 69, and state tax, ^248 89. 

Allentown.* This town was laid out prior to 
1752, by William Allen, Esq., Chief Justice of the 

* See Allentown. 

*The substance of this article is from the pen of Robert 
Wright, Esq. It appeared originally in Hazard's Pa. Keg., Vol. 
XIII, p. 396. 



HISTORY OP LEHIGH COUNTY. 141 

Province of Pennsylvania. Mr. Allen, it appears, 
was a great friend to the Penn family, from whom 
he derived his grants of land. Governor John Penn 
married his daughter. James Allen, son of the pro- 
prietor of AUentown, residing in Philadelphia, be- 
came heir to the site of this town. He died about 
1782, leaving the property to two sons, James and 
William, and three daughters, viz : Mrs. Greenleaf, 
Mrs. Tilghman and Mrs. Livingston. Several of the 
heirs still reside here. 

This place bore the name of Mlentown, till ISll, 
when it was called the Borough of Northamjiton, but 
since changed. It is situated at the junction of the 
Jordan and Little Lehigh creeks, about half a mile 
from the Lehigh river. It is six miles south-west 
from Bethlehem, eighteen miles south-west from 
Easton, and fifty-five miles north-west from Phila- 
delphia. 

It is one of the oldest settlements on the Lehigh 
river, and in the different wars of America, was the 
scene of many a hrax^e and bloody deed. It was 
here that Colonel James Bird displayed such heroism 
in the early wars with the Indians. It was here, 
during the Revolution, that the bells which '■'■chime 
so tnerrily^^ on Christ Church in Philadelphia, were 
concealed by the Americans, and it was here, at a 
later period of our national existence, that the insur- 
rection in which the notorious John Fries bore so 
conspicuous a part, was fomented, and happily for 
us all, smothered in its birth. 

Inhabited by a few wealthy and unenterprising 
Germans, and cut off for many years from the dif- 
ferent post routes, by the influence of the neighboring 
towns, it remained inactive a long time. Its great 
elevation too, rendering it difficult to procure the ne- 
cessary supply of water, had the eflect of retarding 
Its progress in the march of improvement, and it re- 
mained, as at first, " unnoticed and unknown," until 
the year 1811, when, by the division of Northampton 
county, it became the seat of .justice of Lehigh 



142 HISTORY OF LEHIGH COUNTr. 

county, was incorporated by an act of the Legislature, 
passed March 18, 1811, and called Northampton 
Borough. By a smilar act in 1838, the name ^^llen- 
town was again restored. Since it has become the 
county seat, the town has improved rapidly, and bids 
fair to eclipse its neighbors in trade and wealth, as it 
has already in point of beauty. 

The form of the town is square. Its streets are at 
right angles, and the public square in the centre adds 
much to its appearance. It contains a large court 
house and public houses of hewn limestone, a spacious 
prison of the same material ; five churches, German 
Reformed, Lutheran, Presbyterian, Methodist Epis- 
copal, Evangelical Association, and one for all de- 
nominations, called " the Free Hall,^^ in which tem- 
perance lectures are occasionally delivered ; an Acade- 
my incorporated March 18, 1814, to which the state 
gave two thousand dollars ; a boarding school, a splen- 
did and spacious building, formerly occupied as the 
Homoeopathic college. Passing, it might be remark- 
ed, this institution never went into full operation, as 
it was designed it should, under two eminent profes- 
sors residing in Philadelphia. There is one foundry 
in the borough, owned by Mr. Freeburn ; Messrs. 
Krause & Probst's is contiguous to the borough; 
several machine shops, two appothecaries, twenty-six 
stores, eleven taverns, and six coach manufactaries. 

A bank, called The Northainpto<n Bank was es- 
tablished here in 1814, with a capital of $123,365. 
It became completely bankrupt in 1S43. The town 
is well supplied with good, fresh water, from Wor- 
man's sping, at the foot of the hill on which it is 
built. A pump, worked by a water wheel turned by 
the stream, raises the water into a resorvoir in the 
highest part of the town, from which it is distributed 
by pipes laid through the streets. The water is 
forced up to the height of one hundred and sixty feet. 
The water company was formed in 1828. 

There are several Newspapers published in this 
borough : Btr Friedcn^s Bote und Lecha, North- 



HISTORY OP LEHIGH COUNTT. 143 

mnpton, Bucks itnd Montgomery Counties Jin- 
zeiger, by Blumer & Bush, is neutral in politics. It 
has reached its thirty-second volume. Der Lecha 
Patriot und Northamj)ton Democrat, by Reuben 
Guth, a whig paper. It has been in existence seven- 
teen years. Der Unabhaengische Republikaner, by 
James Wilson, Democratic. It is the oldest paper 
here. The Lefiigh Bulletin, by John Royer, Demo- 
cratic. 

The present population may exceed 3000 ; in 1830. 
it was 1,544; in 1840, 2,493. 

It is worthy of notice, to show the salubrity of the 
air o-f this place, that during the prevalence of the 
yellow fever of 1793 and ^99, and the cholera in 1832 
and '33, there was not a single case of either, in this 
place, that in any way resembled those diseases. 

On the main road to Bethlehem, in view of the 
town, is a bridge across the Lehigh river, erected in 
1841. The previous one, a chain bridge, was swept 
away by the great freshet of January, 1841. There 
is also a stone bridge across the Jordan creek, con- 
sisting of eighteen arches. It is about eight hundred 
feet long. It was completed in 1837, at a cost &f 
^10,000. 

The numerous springs, namely: Worman's, Mar- 
tin's, Smith's and Helfrich's, are all worthy of being 
visited by the traveller. The Big or Mammoth Rock, 
spoken of when describing Salisbury township, should 
by all means be visited. It is only three miles from 
the borough, and will amply repay the adventurer 
for his walk. 

Lehigh Port, contiguous to AUentown, contains 
between fifty and sixty dwellings, one tavern, one 
store and six storing houses. Belov/, is Greenleaf's 
Island, owned by Mr. Butz of Philadelphia. This, 
is^land, under the care of a New Jerseyman, supplies 
the good people of the borough with melons, sweet- 
potatoes, &:c. 

In 1841, this place sustained considerable injury 



144 HISTORY OP LEHIGH COUNTY. 

from the January freshet. The following is from the 
Lehigh Bulletin, viz : 

After the intense cold weather we had the begin- 
ning of last week — on Wednesday and Thursday we 
had rain, with a warm southern wind, that brought 
on a sudden thaw. The rivers and streams, in those 
parts, rose rapidly — rose to an unprecedented height. 
The Jordan and Little Lehigh appear not to have 
been as high as at the great freshet in 1839. Owing 
to the immense height of the Big Lehigh, the back 
water was several feet higher than two years ago. 
The Little Lehigh was about three feet higher, over 
Mr. Martz's tan yard, than before. The Jordan ran 
on the large stone bridge over it. 

The freshet, in the Big Lehigh, was tremendous. 
The water was about twenty feet above low-water 
mark balow the dam; and was about three feet above 
the highest point on the Big Island. Such a flood is 
not recollected by our oldest inhabitants. 

Our excellent bridge over the Big Lehigh, and toll 
house, are gone ; three frame houses of Mr. D. Kleck- 
ner, between his tavern and the bridge, are gone. 
The gate-keeper's family have got away, but saved 
nothing out of the house. The other families saved 
more or less, but sustained heavy losses. The store 
liouses have been considerably injured at the basin, 
and several of our merchants, in not having their 
goods removed, have met with heavy losses. A large 
«|uantity of lumber, and a number of boats and scows 
were lost. About two thousand tons of coal are lost. 
The navigation dam has but little, if any, hijury done 
to it. The canal has sustained some injury. 



CHAPTER XL 

MONROE COUNTY ORGANIZED, &c. 

This connty was erected out of Northampton and 
Pike counties, by an act of the Legislature, passed 
April 1, 1836. It was enacted, "that the township 
of Ross, Chestnuthill, Tobyhanna, Pokono, Hamilton, 
Stroud and Smithfield, north of the Blue mountain, 
in Northampton county, together with the townships 
of Middle Smithfield, Price and Coolbaugh, in Pike 
county, shall be, and the same are hereby declared to 
be erected into a separate county, to be called Mon- 
roe."* 

By the same act, Moses W. Coolbaugh, Benjamin 
V. Bush, William Van Buskirk, Michael Shoemaker 
and Joseph Track, were appointed trustees, whose 
duty it (shall he) was to receive written offers of 
donations, in real estate and money, towards defray- 
ing the expenses of the lands and public buildings for 
the use of the county. 

The trustees had several offers made them of sites 
for the county seat ; among others, was Kellerstown, 
in Hamilton township, on the north and south turn- 
pike. Stroudsburg, however, was considered, by the 
trustees, the most favorable location for the county 
seat. 

Monroe county, as at present limited, is about 
twenty-five miles in length and the same in breadth, 
making an area of about six hundred square miles, 

• In 1843, Carbon county was erected, when Penn Forest town- 
ship, in Monroe county, was included in Carbon. 
J 



1 16 HISTORY OF MONROE COUNTY. 

embracing four hundred thousand acres of land, the 
greater proportion of which is forest, and much of it 
unseated land. Thousands of acres were lately sold 
" to pay the arrears of taxes due thereon and the costs 
of such sales.'^ In the majority of townships, lands 
of this kind were offered for sale by the county com- 
missioners, in 1844. 

Monroe is generally very mountainous ; much of 
it is occupied by the desolate ranges of the Pokono 
mountain, and prominent ridges of a coarse fossilifer- 
ous sandstone. The geological features of the county 
are varied and rugged. Beginning on the south side, 
there is the lofty Kittatinny mountain, which is rent 
by the well known Delaware Water Gap, with its 
depressions at the Wind Gap and Smithes Gap. Im- 
mediately along the north side of the Blue mountain 
is a narrow belt of red and variegated shale, suc- 
ceeded on the north by a limestone belt of no great 
thickness; then follows the coarse fossiliferous sand- 
stone, forming a sharp, rocky ridge, nearly parallel 
with the mountain, forming a line of irregular, sharp, 
rugged hills, which range south-westward from 
Stroudsburg. On the north side of this is found an. 
olive slate formation, the lower beds of which are in 
some places so calcareous as to form a rough, slaty 
limestone, containing masses of chert, or black flint, 
and also shells and other fossil remains. Approaching 
towards the foot of the Pokono mountain, we meet 
the red sandstones and shales, next in position, above 
the olive slate ; these form the southern front of the 
mountain, and extend through the country immedi- 
ately south-east of it. Passing over Pokono, we 
meet, in the rocky elevated region beyond its summit, 
the hard coarse sandstone.* 

In the north-western part of the county, on the 
head branches of the Lehigh river, lies an immense 
body of wettish land, covered with a dark, dense 
lorest of lofty pine. This region is called the " Shades. 

* C. B. Trego, Esq. 



HISTORY OF MONROE COUNTY. 147 

of Death,^' or "Great Swamp," by the forlorn fugi- 
tives from Wyoming, in 1778. This part of the 
county is still comparatively a wilderness, and most 
of its lands are classed as '■'-unseated.'''' The opening 
of the Lehigh navigation, however, is attracting many 
lumber-men to this region, and ere long will become 
a brisk and lively place. This portion is very sparsely 
inhabited; the great bulk of the population is to be 
found along the valley of the Delaware and Broad- 
head's creek, and between the Blue mountain and a 
belt of some five miles wide, lying between the Poko- 
no and Kittatinny mountains. Settlements had been 
made here a century ago. The Minisink settlements, 
partly within this county, may have been commenced 
two hundred years ago. This settlement is along the 
fiats of the Delaware river, extending into this county, 
and were undoubtedly made by the Dutch from Eso- 
pus, on the Hudson river, in the state of New 
York.*. 

The population of this county, as to origin or an- 
cestry, is mixed. In the southern and western parts, 
the people are German, and still speak that language. 
About Stroudsburg, the first settlers were friends, and 
of English descent ; in the east, Dutch, French, and 
one or two Spanish families. Among these are Van 
Etten, Depui, and Gunsaules ; but the Dutch, French 
and Spanish are not now spoken by any of their de- 
scendents. 

This county is pretty well supplied with water 
power for mills, and other manufacturing purpose?. 
The Delaware river washes a portion of the south- 
eastern boundary, and drains that part of the county 
by its tributaries: such as Marshall creek, Broadhead 
creek, or Analomink, Mill creek, Bushkill, M'Mi- 
chad's creek, Cherry creek, and other small ones. 
On the west it is drained by the Lehigh, with its 
tributaries, such as Tobyhanna, which rises in a small 
lake called Lang Pond, and miming a south-westerly 

* See 8inithfield township. 



148 HISTORY OF MONROE COUNTY. 

course, receives the waters of Big and Little Tunk- 
hanna creek, and falls into the Lehigh, about two 
miles below Stoddartsville ; the Big creek, formed by 
the junction of the Pohopoko and Hoeth's or Head's 
creek, at the foot of the Pohopoko mountain, from 
which rafts descend to its mouth. It flows south- 
westerly, through a cultivated valley, to which it gives 
name, and falls into the Lehigh at Parrysville, four 
miles above the Lehigh Water Gap ; and the Aquan- 
shicola, which rises about a mile east of the Wind 
Gap, in Ross township, and running along its base, 
falls into the Lehigh, at its entrance into the Water 
Gap. 

This county contained, in 1840, according to the 
statistics of that year, 6,519 head of neat cattle, 9,422 
sheep, 10,642 swine; and produced 10,961 bushels 
of wheat, 84,293 of rye, 56,391 of Indian corn, 50,563 
of buckwheat, 57,513 of oats, 99,237 of potatoes. It 
had nineteen stores, one flouring mill, twenty-five 
grist mills, one hundred and seven saw mills, nineteen 
tanneries, two printing offices, two weekly newspa- 
pers, two academies, thirty-one schools, seven hundred 
and ninety-four scholars, and a population of nine 
thousand eight hundred and seventy-nine. 

There is but one furnace in the county — the one 
owned by Mr. Jordan. 

The following extracts are taken from the records 
of the court of Quarter Sessions, viz : 

At a court of Quarter Sessions of the peace, held 
at Stroudsburg, in and for the county of Monroe, on 
the nineteenth day of December, A. D. 1836, before 
the Hon. David Scott, President, Jacob Brown and 
John T. Bell, Esquires, associates of the same court. 

Joseph S. Teel, Esq., High Sheriff of the said coun- 
ty, came into court and made return of the several 
writs and precepts, to him directed, and made return- 
ed here the same day ; and also produced a certain 
venire facias, juratores, with a pannel thereto an- 
nexed, which being called over, the following persons 
appeared, to wit; 



HISTORY OF MONROE COUNTY. 149 

1. Sroud J. Hollenshead, foreman. 

2. John Boys, Philip S. Brown, Frederick Knecht, 
Joseph Felker, Samuel Rees, James Van Buskirk, 
Andrew Learn, George Rouse, John Yetter, Jacob 
Shaffer, George Buskirk, Joseph Vanaken, Samuel 
Myer, James Morgan, Philip Krasge, George Flyde, 
Peter Lander and Madison Decker, who were seve- 
rally sworn or aflirmed, well and truly to enquire for 
the commonwealth of Pennsylvania, in and for the 
body of the county of Monroe. 

(IJ^ln 1837, there were thirty-two licensed public 
houses. 



CHAPTEEXIL 

TOPOGRAPHY OF TOWNSHIPS, &c. 

Stroud township, so called after one of its first 
settlers, Jacob Stroud, is bounded on the north by 
Middle Smithfield township ; on the east by Smith- 
field ; on the south by Northampton county ; on the 
south-west by Hamilton township ; and on the north- 
west by Pokono township. The surface of this town- 
ship is partly hilly and partly level ; a portion of the 
township is limestone soil ; much of it gravel. Con- 
siderable attention is paid to agriculture ; many of the 
farms are well improved and abundantly productive. 

The township is well watered by Smithfield creek 
and its tributaries, Sambo, Broadhead, Sullivan, and 
by M'MichaeFs creeks, and Cherry creek. Smith- 
field creek is formed by Pokono, Broadhead's and 
M'MichaeFs creeks, near Stroudsburg. It is naviga- 
ble a short distance above the river Delaware, into 
which it enters. Sambo creek rises in Pike county, 
and flowing south-westerly through the north-west 
course of Smithfield township, falls into Broadhead's 
creek, in this township. Sullivan's creek rises in 
Tobyhanna township, and flowing an eastern and 
southern course, falls into Smithfield creek, near 
Stroudsburg. M'MichaeFs creek rises in Pokono 
township, and after a devious course of twelve or thir- 
teen miles, falls into Smithfield creek, at Stroudsburg. 
It is a rapid stream, serpentine in its course, and af- 
fords several excellent mill seats. Several mills are 
turned by it. Cherry creek rises at the foot of the Blue 
mountain, near the Wind Gap, and running along the 



HISTORY OP MONROE COUNTY. 151 

foot of the mountain, falls into the Delaware river, at 
jts enterance into the Water Gap. It is a very rapid 
stream, and has several mill seats upon it. 

There are two newspapers published here, viz : 
The Jeffersonian Republican, printed and published 
by Messrs. Schoch & Spearing ; and The Monroe 
Democrat, by Rafferty Hannum. This paper was 
commenced in 1836. 

Near Stroudsburg is an extensive forge for the 
manufactory of bar iron, where a number of fires, 
hammers, and some thirty hands are at work. The 
forge is owned by John Jordan, Esq., of Philadelphia, 
successfully managed by Mr. Morris Evans. 

The population of Stroud township was, in 1820, 
1,143; iti 1830, 1,631; in 1840, 1,206, exclusive of 
the borough, which numbered 407. The tax valua- 
tion of real and personal property, in 1844, was $248,- 
'816 00; trades and occupations, $50,420 00; money 
at interest, $26,485 00 ; pleasure carriages valued at 
S2,485. 

Stroudsburg, the county seat, is situated in a very 
fine country, on the left bank of the M'Michael's 
creek, some distance below where the Pokono empties 
into it, and immediately above the junction of the 
Analomink, or Broadhead creek, with M'Michael's 
creek. The town is pleasantly situated ; the streets 
are wide ; many of the houses are handsome, and 
generally stand back from the streets, with neat 
small yards before them, adding much in heightening 
the fine appearance of the place. The yards are 
adorned with shrubbery of various kinds. The 
houses are principally frame, and, it appears, as it 
were by general consent, are painted white, with 
windows and doors of green and yellow, as fancy 
may have directed. Description fails in presenting 
the beauty of the place, the romantic scenery of the 
surrounding vicinity. 

The town is three miles north-west from the Dela- 
ware Water Gap ; thirty from Easton. It was in- 



152 HISTORY OF MONROE COUNTY. 

corporated as a borough, by an act of Assembly, 
pa^ed February 6, 1815. It contains two academies; 
the one was incorporated, March 28, 1814 ; the other 
was erected in 183S. There are within its precincts 
five churches; one for the English Presbyterians, one 
for the Orthodox Friends, and the other for the 
Friends, or Quakers ; one for the Methodist Episco- 
pal, and a free church. Besides these denominations. 
Baptists and German Reformed preach occasionally 
in the stone academy. There are four taverns and 
eight stores in the town ; also a grist and saw mill, an 
extensive tannery. Population about 700. 

The town and township may be called "a Quaker 
settlement.^' The inhabitants are enterprising, frank, 
temperate, moral, always ready to extend the hand of 
friendship to strangers and visitors. 

Stroudsburg was first settled by Colonel Jacob 
Stroud, of the Revolutionary army, who had com- 
mand here, of Fort Penn, and owned about four 
thousand acres of land in the vicinity. Five houses 
had been erected before his death, 1806. Daniel 
Stroud, after the death of his father, widened the 
main street, sold lots as occasion otTered. In 1835 
the town was selected as the county seat. It is said 
by Daniel Stroud, an aged and venerable citizen of 
the place, that Fort Hamilton, one o-f the forts that 
formed a line of frontier posts, extending from the 
Delaware, along the Kittatinny mountain, to the Po- 
tomac river, erected during the old French and In- 
dian war of 1755-60, stood at the west end of the 
town. It is said that two soldiers of the garrison, 
walking among the scrub oaks on the brow of the 
hill, where the academy now stands, were killed by 
a party of Indians in ambuscade. 

James Young, Commissary General, states in his 
journal of June 24, 175G : " At four, A. M., set out 
from Bosart's ; at six came to fort Hamilton, about 
seven miles from Bosart's — a good wagon road, and 
the land better than any I had seen on the north side 
of the moimtain. 



HISTORY OF MONROE COUNTY. 153 

" Fort Hamilton stands in a corn field, by a farm 
house, in a plain and clear country ; it is a square 
with four half bastions, all veiy ill contrived and 
finished ; the stoccades are six inches open in many 
places, and not firm in the ground, and may be easily 
pulled down. Before the gate are some stoccades 
driven in the ground to cover it, which I think might 
be a great shelter to an enemy. I therefore ordered 
them to pull them down. I also ordered to fill up 
the other stoccades where they were open. 

" Provincial stoi^es. — One wall piece, 14 good 
muskets, 4 want repairing ; 1 6 cartouch boxes filled 
with powder and lead, 28 pounds of powder, 13 
pounds of lead, 10 axes, one broad axe, 26 toma- 
hawks, 28 blankets, 3 drawing knives, 3 splitting 
knives, 2 adzes, 2 saws, and one brass kettle." 

Colonel James Burd states in his journal of March 
2, 1758 : " Thursday 2d, I marched from here, (Fort 
Hyndshaw) at nine, A. M., for Samuel Depue's; went 
by way of Fort Hamilton, to view that place. Ar- 
rived at Fort Hamilton at two P. M. — viewed it, and 
found it a very poor stoccade, with one large house 
in the middle of it, and some families living in it." 

In December, 1755, the Indians made an attack 
upon the inhabitants in the neighborhood of this 
place, as appears from the following depositions — one 
taken at Philipsburg, the other at Easton : 

Colonel Joseph Stout received one express this 
morning, by a young man from that place where 
John Carmeckle and Broadhead live, back of Samuel 
Depue's, where they were attacked yesterday about 
eleven o'clock, where the barn and barracks were on 
fire, and heard the guns afiring, for Broadhead had 
barricaded his house, and there were several people 
killed, and I fled to John Anderson for help, and as 
near as I could estimate, there were one hundred of 
the enemy that appeared to me, and were in white 
people's clothing, only a few match coats. 

Sworn before me, this 12th Dec, 1755. 

HENRY COLE. 



154 HISTORY OF MONROE COUNTY. 

Col. Stout, I desire you would come up directly 
with your regiment, till you and I see if we cannot 
save our country. Your compliance will oblige your 
real friend. 

JOHN ANDERSON. 

Philipsburgh. 

The 12th day of December, 1755, personally ap- 
peared before me, William Parsons, one of his ma- 
jesty's justices of the peace, for the county of North- 
ampton, John M'Michael, Henry Dysert, James 
Tidd and Job Bakehorn, jr., who being duly sworn 
on the Holy Evangelists of Almighty God, did de- 
pose and declare that yesterday about three of the 
clock, in the forenoon, two Indian m-en came from 
towards Broadhead's house, who fired at these depo- 
nents and several others, who retm-ned the fire and 
made the Indians turn off; and the said deponents, 
James Tidd and Job Bakehorn, further say that as 
they were going round the stack yard of the said 
M'Michael, where they all were, they saw, as they 
verily believe, at least four Indians on their knees, 
about twenty purches from the stack yard, who fired 
at these deponents. And these deponents further say, 
that they were engaged in manner aforesaid with the 
Indians at least three quarters of an hour ; and these 
deponents, John M'Michael and Henry Dysert, fur- 
ther say, that they saw the barn of the said Broad- 
head on fire about nine of the clock in the morning, 
which continued burning till they left the house, be- 
ing about four in the afternoon, and that they heard 
shooting and crying at Broadhead's house almost the 
whole day, and that when they left M 'Michael's 
house, the dwelling house of the said Broadhead was 
yet unburnt, being, as they suposed, defended by the 
people within. And these deponents, James Tidd 
and Job Bakehorn, further say, that they did not come 
to M'Michael's house till about three in the afternoon, 
when they could see the barn and barracks of the 
said Broadhead on fire 5 and these deponents further 



HISTORY OP MONROE COUNTT. 155 

say, that they did not see any one killed on either side, 
but James Garland, one of their company, was shot 
through the hand and arm ; and further deponents 
say not. 

JOHN M'MICHAEL, 
HENRY DEYSERT, 
JOB BAKEHORN. 
Sworn at Easton, December 12, 1755, before me, 
WILLIAM PARSONS. 

The Indians committed many cruel murders in this 
region of country, as will appear in the sequel. 
"'February 10, 1764, Indians, to the number of fifty, 
attacked the farm of James Russel, Northampton 
county, (now Monroe,) near Fort Penn ; burnt his 
barn, killing one of his sons, and carrying off another. 
Officei*sat that post pursued, but did not overtake the 
Indians. 

" February 26, John Russell, brother of the above 
lads, before mentioned, was attacked by three Indians. 
He took a tree, and received three fires from each, 
returned as many, and drove them off. One shot 
passed through his hat, another through the sleeve of 
his coat, and the third wounded him slightly in the 
calf of the leg."* 

Stroudsburg was the first settlement reached by the 
forlorn fugitives from Wyoming, after the battle of 
July, 1778. Colonel Spalding was here, at Fort Penn, 
at the time, with a detachment, and immediately left 
to endeavor to succor the people of Wyoming ; but 
he was too late, and passed on to the West Branch, 
and afterwards went up to Sheshequin.t 

Stroudsburg and vicinity suffered much from the 
flood in January, 1841. 

Disastrous flood. — Within the last few days we 
have experienced the most disastrous flood ever 
known in this section of the coimtry. On Wednesday 

*Gordon's His. Pa., Appendix, p. 624. 
f Day's Collections, p. 478. 



156 HISTORY OF MONROE COUNTY. 

morning last the rain commenced falling, and con- 
tinued without cessation, until late on Thursday night 
or Friday morning, which of course softened the snow 
and started it running into the brooks and small 
streams around the vicinity. 

On Thursday afternoon the ice commenced running 
out of the Pokono and M'Michael's, and Broadhead's 
creeks, which surround the borough, and before even- 
ing they, as well as all other streams, were swollen 
to a height never before known by the oldest inhabi- 
tants. In its course the destructive element swept 
away bridges, lumber, one or two smaU houses and 
barns, and indeed every species of property along the 
creeks, was more or less injured. 

On Broadhead's creek, the saw mills of William 
Staples, Jasper Cotant, and several others have been 
materially injured, and nearly all kinds of mills have 
been rendered useless for a considerable time. The 
Analomink Iron Works, of Evans, Scranton & Co., 
about a mile below the borough, are said to have been 
seriously damaged, though we cannot at present 
make any estimate of the loss sustained. 

On Thursday night, families were compelled to quit 
their houses and flee to those of their neighbor's for 
safety. 

The loss sustained bjr the county, in bridges, &c., is 
inrmiense, as scarcely one-tenth of all the coimty 
bridges have escaped the general destruction. The 
clover mill, saw mill, barn and bridge belonging to 
James Bell & Brothers, in Smithlield, have, Ave under- 
stand, been entirely swept away, together with a part 
of their grist mill. 

The extensive tannery of R. T. Dowing & Co., in 
Pokono, is said to have been much injured — also that 
of Jeremy Mackey, at Bartonsville. Depue S. Miller, 
Ivsq., we presume, sustained considerable loss at his 
tannery, at this place. The brick house built by Henry 
Jordan & Co., on the south side of M'Michael's creek, 
has been considerably endangered by the caving in 
of the bank, and fears were entertained on Friday 



HISTORY OF MONROE COUNTY. 157 

that it would also become a prey to the destructive 
element. But fortunately, we believe, it still stands. 

(^;J^ Since the above was in type, we understand 
that the blacksmith and wheelwright shops, belong- 
ing to John Dietrich, inn-keeper, on the north and 
south turnpike road, was entirely swept off — and 
most painful of all, a young man from New Jersey, 
who was endeavoring to save the above property, was 
drowned, and the body afterwards found some eighty 
yards below — his name we have not learned. 

The dam belonging to Peter Keller's mill, in Cherry 
valley, was taken off, and all the dams and bridges 
on Cherry creek. We also learn that the saw mill 
of Michael Rausbury, on Broadhead's creek, was 
entirely carried off. We learn that the roads, bridges, 
&c., in almost every direction, are more or less injured, 
and many of them rendered impassable. There is 
scarcely a mill of any description along the streams 
in this comity, but has been more or less injured — 
dams in some instances torn away, and some of the 
saw mills swept entirely off. 

We heard it rumored that several houses, &c., were 
seen floating down the Delaware, between this place 
and Milford.* 

Smithfield, or Lower SmithfieJd township, is 
bounded on the north-west by Middle Smithfield 
township ; on the south-east by the Delaware river ; 
and on the west by Stroud township. The township 
forms a triangle, Avith a curved base. The surface is 
hilly ; the soil gravel, and in many places well im- 
proved. It is abundantly watered by the Delaware 
river. Mill creek, Marshall's creek, Smithfield creek 
and Cherry creek. 

This township is remarkable for the Delaware 
Water Gap, an opening, supposed by many, to have 
been forced by the river, through the Kittatiiiny moun- 
tain, forming one of the most picturesque scenes in 

*Monrae Democrat, January 9, 1841. 



15S HISTORr OF MONROE COUNTY. 

the state of Pennsylvania. The Gap has been de- 
scribed in a preceding part of this volume. 

In the opening of this Gap, on terra Jirma — on 
the rocky bank of the river is an excellent hotel, kept 
by William A. Broadhead, from which a fine view 
of the Water Gap may be had. A gentleman who 
visited the Gap, and staid at Broadhead's in 1844. 
says: " During our stay we had access to an Indian 
burial ground, a few miles above the Water Gap, the 
curiosities of which amply repaid of itself for our visit. 
The spot is situated upon an elevation, beneath which 
is a beautiful plain, called by the Indian name, Paha- 
quara. Here are deposited the mortal remains of 
those Avho are alike strong in attachment and resent- 
ment. Who, ' when once having drew the sword 
never returned it to the scabbard until it was crim- 
soned in the blood of its aggressor.' Here we saw 
and procured many interesting relics. Two or three 
of the graves had been excavated, and among those 
obtained were the following : Two guns, one on each 
side of the Indian, whose bones only remain — several 
brass plates, with the crucifixion of Christ on one 
side, and his ascention on the other — a large quantity 
of beads of various colors and sizes — a brass tobacco 
box — a blanket, and a quantity of small bells attached, 
with pipes, &c. These articles were all taken from 
the grave of one Indian, the others had nothing de~ 
posited with them save their blankets. They are 
now nearly all in possession of the gentleman who 
showed us the graves." 

Dutotsbiirg, near the river Delaware at its en- 
trance into the Water Gap, three miles south-east 
from Stroudsburg, is a small village, consisting of ten 
or twelve dwellings, one store and a tavern. This 
place was laid out some years ago by M. Antoine 
Dutot, a Frenchman. Mr. Dutot died in 1842. 

This village was once a merry place, especially in 
the spring, when the lumbermen along the Delaware 
had occasion to stay " a night, or week" — regaling 
trim ; but since the lumber trade has decreased, and 



HISTORT OF MONROE COUNTY. 159 

the main business transacted at Stroudsburg, the 
Frenchman's town has dechned — the glory of Dutots- 
burg has vanished. 

Craig's Meadoiv, is a small post village, containhig 
four dwellings, one tavern, one store, and a Baptist 
meeting house, which is also occupied as a school 
house. 

Branchvillc, was laid out rising twenty years ago, 
by Mr. George Zimmerman. It consists of several 
dwellings, a store, a grist mill and clover mill. 

There are in this township three grist mills, and six 
or more saw mills. The population in 1830, was 
1,080; in 1840, 1,144. Real and personal property 
for taxation, in 1844, ^174,329 00; trades and occu- 
pations, $28,150 00; money on interest, ^4,650 00. 

It appears from the following extract from a letter 
written by Samuel Preston, Wayne county, (taken 
from Haz. Reg., Vol. I. p. 439,) that this portion of 
country was settled at an early date : 

In 1787, the v/riter went on his first surveying 
tour into Northampton county. He was deputy un- 
der John Lukins, Surveyor General, and received 
from him, by way of instructions, the following nara- 
tive, respecting the settlement of Meenesink, on the 
Delaware, above the Kittatinny, or Blue mountains : 
That the settlement was formed a long time before it 
was known to the government in Philadelphia. That 
when government was informed of the settlement, 
they passed a law, in 1729, that any such purchases 
of the Indians should be void, and the purchasers in- 
dicted for forcible entry and detainer, according to 
tile laws of England. That in 1730 they appointed 
an agent to go and investigate the facts ; that the 
agent so appointed was the famous surveyor, Nicolas 
Scull ; that he, J. Lukens, was then N. Scull's ap- 
prentice, to carry chain and learn surveying ; that he 
accompanied N. Scull. As they both understood and 
could talk Indian, they hired Indian guides, and had 
a fatiguing journey, there being then no white inhabi- 
tants m the upper part of Bucks or Northampton 



160 HISTORY OP MONROE COUNTY. 

counties. That they had very great difFicuhy to lead 
their horses through tlie Water Gap to Meenesink 
fiats, which were all settled with Hollanders ; with 
several they could only be understood in Indian. At 
the venerable Samuel Depuis', they found great hos- 
pitality, and plenty of the necessaries of life. J. 
Lukens said the first thing that struck his admiration 
was a grove of apple trees, of size far beyond any 
near Philadeipbia. That as N, Scull and himself ex- 
amined the banks, they were fully of opinion that all 
tiiose flats had at some very former age, been a deep 
lake, before the river broke through the mountain ; 
and that the best interpretation they could make 
of Meenesirik was, " the water is gone.'' [Doubt- 
ful.-] 

Tliat S. Depuis told them that when the rivers were 
frozen he had a good road to Esopus from the Mine 
Holes, on the Mine Road, some hundred miles: that 
he took his wheat and cider there, for salt and neces- 
saries; and did not appear to have any knowledge or 
idea where the river ran — Philadelphia market — or 
being in the government of Pennsylvania. They 
were of opinion that the first settlements of Holland- 
ers, in Meenesink, were many years older than Wil- 
liam Penn's charter ; and as S. Depuis had treated 
them so well, they concluded to make a survey of his 
claim, in order to befriend him, if necessary. W^hen 
tliey began to survey, the Indians gathered round : 
an old Indian laid his hand on N. Scull's shoulder, 
and said, '■'-Put up ii'on stririg — go home!'' That 
they quit, and returned. 

I had it in cliarge from John Lukens to learn more 
particulars respecting the Mine Road to Esopus, &c. 
I found Nicholas Depuis, Esq., (son of Samuel) living 
in a spacious stone house, in great plenty and afflu- 
ence. The old Mine Holes were a few miles above, 
on the Jersey side of the river, by the lower point of 
Paaquarry flat ; that the Meenesink settlement ex- 
tended forty miles or more, on both sides of the river. 
That he had well known the Mine Road to Esopus, 



HISTORY OF MONROE COUNTY. 161 

and used, before he opened the boat-channel, through 
Foul Rifts, to drive on it several times every winter, 
with loads of wheat and cider, as also did his neigh- 
bors, to purchase their salt and necessaries in Esopus, 
having then no other market, or knowledge where 
the river ran to. That after a navigable channel was 
■ opened through Foul Rifts, they generally took to 
boating: most of the settlement turned their trade 
down stream, and the Mine Road became less and 
less travelled. This interview, with the amiable 
Nicholas Depuis, Esq., was in the month of June, 
1787. He then appeared to be perhaps about sixty 
years of age. I interrogated him as to the particulars 
of what he knew; as to when and by whom the 
Mine Road was made; what was the ore they dug 
and hauled on it; what was the date, and from 
whence or how came the first settlers of Meenesink, 
in such great numbers as to take up all the flats, on 
both sides of the river, for forty miles. He could only 
give traditional accounts of what he had heard from 
older people, without date, in substance as follows : 

" That in some former age there came a company 
of miners from Holland — supposed, from the great 
labor that had been expended in making that road, 
about one hundred miles long, that they were very 
rich, or great people in working the two mines; one 
on the Delaware, where the mountain nearly ap- 
proaches the lower point of Paaquarry flat; the other 
at the north foot of the same mountain, near half way 
between Delaware and Esopus. That he ever under- 
stood abundance of ore had been hauled on that road, 
but never could learn whether it was lead or silver. 
That the first settlers came from Holland, to seek a 
place of quiet, being persecuted for their religion. I 
believe they were Arminians. They followed the 
Mine Road to the large flats on the Delaware. That 
smooth cleared land, and such an abundance of large 
apple trees, suited their views ; that they bona fide 
bought the improvements of the native Indians, most 
of whom then removed to Susquehanna. That with 
H 



16.2 HISTORY OF MONROE COUNTY. 

such as remained, there was peace and friendship, 
until the year 1755." 

I then went to view the Paaquarry Mine Holes. 
There appeared to have been a great abundance of 
labor done there, at some former time ; but the mouths 
of these holes were caved full, and overgrown with 
bushes. I concluded to myself, if there ever had 
been a rich mine under that mountain, it must be 
there yet, in close confinement. The other old men 
that I conversed with, gave their traditions similar to 
Nicholas Depuis; and they all appeared to be the 
grandsons of the firs-t settlers, and generally, very 
illiterate as to dates, or any thing relating to chrono- 
logy. 

In the summer of 1789, I began to build on this 
place. There came two venerable gentlemen on a 
surveying expedition. They were the late General 
James Clinton, the father of the late De Witt Clinton, 
and Christopher Tappan, Esq., the clerk and recorder 
of Ulster county. For many years before, they had 
both been surveyors under General Clinton's father, 
when he was Sui'veyor General. In order to learn 
some history, from gentlemen of their general know- 
ledge, I accompanied them in the woods. They both 
well knew the Miae Holes, Mine Roads, &:c. and as 
there were no kind of documents or records thereof, 
united in opinion, that it was a work transacted while 
the state of New York belonged to the government of 
New Holland ; that it fell to the English in the year 
1664; and that the change of government stopped 
the mining business ; that the road must have been 
made many years, before so much digging could be 
done ; that it must undoubtedly have been the first 
good road, »f that extent, ever made in the United 
States. From the best evidence that I have been able 
10 obtain, I am clearly of opinion, that the Meenesink 
was the oldest European settlement, of equal extent,, 
ever made in the territory, afterwards named Penn- 
sylvania. 



HISTORY OF MONROE COUNTY. 163 

Upper or Middle Smithfield township), is bounded 
on the north by Pike county ; on the east by the De- 
laware river, which separates this township from the 
state of New Jersey ; on the south by Lower Smith- 
field, Stroud and Pokono township ; on the west by 
Coolbaugh. The surface of this townsliip is generally 
hilly, and some of it broken ; the soil is principally 
a gravelly loam, pretty heavily timbered with pine, 
hemlock, beech, maple and oak ; much of it is classed 
among "unseated lands." In 1844, rising ten thou- 
sand acres of unseated lands were offered for sale by 
the treasurer of the covmty, to pay the arrears of taxes 
due on the lauds, and the cost of sale. Except the 
south and eastern part of ii, is sparsely inhabited and 
not well cultivated. Although a large township, it 
contained, in 1830, only 1,000 of a population; and 
in 1840, 1,144, two grist mills, and four or five saw 
mills. The real and personal property assessed, in 
1844, amounted to ^163,159 00. It is, however, im- 
proving, within the last few years, and will, undoubt- 
edly, before many years, be generally settled. 

It was in this township, and adjoining region, the 
Indians committed many depredations during 1755 to 
1764. It is noted in the Provincial Record, as will 
be seen from the following extracts, that in 1755, the 
Indians overran this part of the county. 

'•Dec. 25th, 1755. — Accounts from Easton, of the 
whole country up the river, (Delaware,) being desert- 
ed from Brodhead's, who, with his sons, and others, 
defended himself stoutly, till the Indians retired." 

The following communication from Mr. Hamilton 
to Governor Morris, exhibits the state of the country 
at the time alluded to above. Hamilton had been at 
Easton, on a message from the Governor of the pro- 
vince of Pennsylvania. 

Easton, Monday evening j Dec. 25, 1755. 

Dear Sir : 

The commissioners came to this town on Saturday 
evening, where we found the county under the great- 



164 HISTORY er monroe county. 

est consternation, and every thing that has been said 
of the distress of the inhabitants, more than verified 
upon our own view. The country, along the river, 
is absolutely deserted from this place to Broadhead's ; 
nor can there be the least communication between us; 
and them but by large parties of armed men, every 
body being afraid to venture without that secvu'ity, so 
that we have had no accounts from thence for several 
days. 

Broadhead was stoutly defended by his sons, and 
others, till the Indians thought fit to retire, without 
being able to take it or set it on fire, though they fre- 
quently attempted it. It is thought several of them 
were killed in the attacks ; but that is not known with 
certainty. 

We have here, upwards of one hundred men, be- 
ing the companies of Capt. Aston, Capt. Trump and 
Capt. M'Glaughlin, and are impatiently expecting 
more from below, for the people here are not very 
numerous, and are, besides, very bacliward in enter- 
ing into service. Though the encouragement is great, 
and one would think they would gladly embrace the 
opportunity of revenging themselves on the authors 
of their ruin ; but the terror that has seized them is 
so great, or their spirits so small, that unless men come 
from other parts of the province, I despair of getting 
such a number here as will be sufficient to garrison 
the block-house we propose to build over the Hills, 
whither we intended to have gone to-morrow, but that 
our provision wagons are not come up, and that we 
have not men enough for the above mentioned pur- 
poses, 

I understand that Aaron Dupui is still at home, 
and that it is very unlikely that he will be able to 
leave his house in this time of distress to carry your 
message to Wyoming, so that I believe the expecta- 
tions of the treaty will fall to the ground ; nor does 
any body, either here or there, believe we have a 
single Indian that may be called a friend ; nor do I 
see a possibility of getting that message conveyed to 



HISTORY OP MONROE COUNTY. 165 

them from hence, even supposing they were friends ; 
every body is afraid of stirring a step, without a 
strong guard. 

I heartily wish you were at liberty to declare war 
against them and offer large reward for scalps, which 
appears the only way to clear our frontiers of those 
-savages, and will, I am persuaded, be infinitely cheap- 
est in the end. For I clearly foresee the expense of 
defending ourselves in the way we are in, will ruin 
the province , and be far from effectual at last, princi- 
pally for want of a good militia law, by which the 
men might be subjected to discipline ; for at present 
they enter themselves and then leave their Captains 
at their own humor, without a person in the officers 
to punish them for that or any other misbehavior. 

I have commissioned several captains here, who 
engage to raise men, but principally two, who have 
undertaken to range the country between the two 
branches of this river ; for the security of the two 
Irish settlements, in hopes that those who have de- 
serted by the whole of those on the main branch may 
be induced to return to their plantations, which after 
all I very much question, so very great are their ap- 
prehensions of the Indians. 

I cannot say for certain when we shall leave this 
place, that depending on the coming of the provi- 
sions, and our getting a sufficient number of men. 
Many of those already here, not being able to march 
for want of shoes, which has obliged us to send down 
for a supply to Philadelphia. 

I have but a moment to write, the express being 
ready to depart. I shall from time to time keep you 
informed of any thing that may be worth your notice, 
but at present nothing of that kind offers. 
I am with great respect, 

Sir, your obedient servant, 

JAMES HAMILTON. 



166 HISTORY OF MONROE COUNTY. 

In 1757, the Indians again attempted incursions 
into this part of the country, as will appear from the 
following : 

It appears the Indians were doing mischief in 
Northampton county, as appears from the following 
letters, from Maj. Parsons to Governor Denny, AprO 
24, 1757: 

Deposition of Michael Roup. 

"The 24th day of April, 1757, appeared before me, 
William Parsons, Esq., &c., Michael Roup, of Lower 
Smithfield, Northampton county, aged fifty two years, 
a person to me well known, and worthy of credit, and 
being duly sworn, did depose and declare : That his 
neighbor, Philip Bozart, being at Fort Norris last 
Saturday week, heard a letter read there which was 
despatciied by Major Parsons, to acquaint the garri- 
son that he had received information that some ene- 
my Indians intended shortly to come and attack the 
inhabitants at and about Minisinks, and to desire 
them to be upon their guard, which was soon made 
known to all the neighboring inhabitants. And this 
deponent further saith, that on Friday morning last, 
John Le Fever, passing by the houses of Philip Bozart 
and others, deponent informed them that the Indians 
had murdered Casper Gundryman last Monday even- 
ing ; whereupon this deponent went immediately to 
the house of Philip Bozart, to consult what was best 
to be done ; their houses being about half a mile 
apart. That they concluded at last for the neighbors 
to collect themselves together, as many as they could, 
in some one house. And this deponent further saith, 
that he immediately returned home and loaded his 
wagon as fast as he could, with his most valuable ef- 
fects, which he carried to Bozart's house ; that as 
soon as he had unloaded his wagon, he drove to his 
son-in-law's, Peter Soan's house, about two miles, 
and loaded as much of his etfects as the time and 
hurry would admit, and took them also to Bozart's, 
where nine families were retired ; that a great num- 



HISTORY OP MONROE COUNTY. 167 

ber of the inhabitants were also retired to the houses 
of Conrad Bittenbender and John M'Dowel ; that 
EcEart's house is seven miles from Fort HamiUon, 
and twelve from Fort Norris. And this deponent 
further saith, that yesterday morning, about nine 
o'clock, the said Peter Soan and Christian Klein, with 
his daughter, about thirteen years of age, went from 
Bozart's house, to the house of the said Klein, and 
thence to Soan's house, to look after the cattle, and to 
bring off more effects. And this deponent further 
saith, that about half an liour after the above three 
persons were gone from Bozart's house, a certain 
George Hartlieb, who also fled with his family to 
Bozart's, and who had been at hi-s own house, about 
a mile from Soan's, to look after his creatures, and 
bring away what he could, returned to Bozart and 
reported that he had heard three guns fired very 
quick one after another, towards Soan's place, which 
made them all conclude the above three persons were 
all killed by the Indians. And this deponent further 
saith, that their little company were afraid to venture 
to go and see what had liappened that day, as they 
had many women and children to care for, who, if 
they had been left, might have fallen an easy prey to 
the enemy. And this deponent further saith, that 
this morning nine men of their neighborhood armed 
themselves as well as they could, and went towards 
Peter Soan's place in order to discover what was be- 
come of the above three persons ; that when they 
came within about three hundred yards of the house, 
they fo\md the bodies of the said Soan and Klein, lying 
about twenty feet from each other, killed and scalped ; 
but did not find Klein's daughter. Soan was killed 
by a bullet which entered the upper part of his back, 
and came out at his breast. Klein was killed with 
their tomahawks. 

The nine men now immediately returned to Bozart's 
and reported as above. That this deponent was not 
one of the nine, but that he remained at Bozart's with 
the women and children ; that the rest of the people 



168 HISTORY or MONROE COUNTy. 

desired this deponent to come to Easton, and acquaint 
the justice with what had happened; that the nine 
men did not think it sale to stay to bury the dead, &.c. 

MICHAEL ROUP. 
Sworn at Easton, beCore William Parsons. 

[Prov. Rec, p. 219.] 

Letter from Major Parsons to Governor Denny. 
June 22, 1757, with deposition of George Ebert : 

The deposition of George Ebert, taken before Wil- 
liam Parsons, Esq. 

On the 20th of June, 1757, personally appeared 
before me, William Parsons, justice of the peace for 
Northampton county, George Ebert, (son of John 
Ebert,) late of Plainfield township, in said county, 
yeoman, but now of Easton, in the same county, 
aged sixteen years, and being duly sworn, &c., 
&c., deposeth and declareth, that on or about the 
second day of May last, he, this deponent, with 
about eighteen armed men, went with two- wagons 
from Plainfield township, to assist the inhabitants 
of Lower Smithfield, who had a few days be- 
fore been attacked by the enemy Indians, and some 
of the neighborhood murdered by the savages, to- 
bring off some of their best effects ; that about noon 
of the same day, they came to the house of Conrad 
Bittenbender, to which divers of the neighbors had 
fled — here one of the wagons, with about ten men, 
with this deponent,, halted to load their wagon with 
the poor people's effects ; and the rest of the compa- 
ny, with the other wagon, went forward about a mile 
to the house of Philip Bozart, to which place others 
of the neighbors had also fled, with such of their 
* effects as they could, in their confusion, carry 
then ; that this deponent and Conrad Bittenbender, 
Peter Shaeffer, John Nolf, Jacob Roth, Michael 
Kiersfer, a certain Keins, and one man more, whose 
name this deponent has forgotten, went about two 



HISTORY OF MONROE COUNTY. 169 

miles into the woods, to seek the neighbors' horses, 
whereof they found six, and were returning with them 
to within half a mile of Bittenbender's house, when 
they were attacked by fifteen French Indians, who 
fired upon them, and kille I Bittenbender, Jacob Roth- 
and John Nolf, as he believes, for that he saw them 
fall, one dead, and took Peter Shaeffer, who received 
two flesh shots, one in his arm and the other in the 
shoulder, and this deponent, prisoner ; this deponent 
received a shot. 

And this deponent further saith, that the Indians 
frequently talked French together ; that they set off' 
immediately with their prisoners ; that on the evening 
of the next day, they fell in with another company of 
about twenty-four Indians, who had Abraham Miller, 
with his mother, and Adam Snell's daughter, prison- 
ers. The Indians, with their prisoners, marched in 
parties as far as Diahoga ; that at this place the In- 
dians separated, and about eight, the foremost, took 
this deponent and Abraham Miller, with them, and 
they never saw any of the other prisoners after- 
wards ; that on their way on this side of Diahoga,. 
they saw Klein's daughter, who had been taken pris- 
oner about a week before this, deponent was taken ; 
that a day's journey beyond Diahoga, they come to 
some French Indian cabins, where they saw another 
prisoner, a girl about eighteen or nineteen years old,, 
who told this deponent that her name was Katharine 
Yeager ; that her father was a locksmith, and lived 
at AUetnengle, and that she had been prisoner ever 
since Christmas ; that at this place the Indians loosed 
the prisoners, this deponent and Abraham Miller,, 
whom they had bound every night before ; that find- 
ing themselves at liberty, they, this deponent and 
Abraham Miller, made their escape in the night, and 
the next day afternoon they came to French Marga- 
rett's, at Diahoga, having been prisoners nine days ; 
that they stayed about four weeks with her, during 
all which time she concealed them and supported 
them ; that some French Indians came in search of 



170 HISTORY OF MONROE COUNTY. 

the prisoners, whereupon Margaret told them it was 
not safe for them to stay any longer, and advised them 
to make the best of their way homewards ; that all 
the Indians at, and on this side of Diahoga, were very 
kind to them, and helped and directed them on their 
way. John Cook was particularly helpful to them ; 
that while they were at Diahoga, they were informed 
that the Indians had killed Abraham Miller's mother, 
who was not able to travel further, and Snell's 
daughter, who had received a Avound in her leg by 
a fall, when they first took her prisoner ; but they 
heard nothing of Peter Sheaffer ; that in three days 
they arrived at Wyoming by water, as Margaret had 
advised them; that at Wyoming the Indians directed 
them the way to Fort vVllcn, but they missed their 
way, and came the road to Fort Hamilton, where 
they arrived last Saturday a week. 

And this deponent further saith, that the friendly 
Indians told them that the enemy had killed Mar- 
shall's wife, at the First mountain. And further this 
deponent saith not. 

GEORGE EBERT. 

Sworn at Easton, before W. Parsons. 

This deponent saith, that they understood by the 
French Indians, that they had three days farther to 
go, from the place whence they escaped. 

Letter with the above deposition was also read 
from Major Parsons, on the 26th June, 1757, giving 
an account that a large body of Indians had attacked 
and burned Broadhead's house, which is about a mile 
from, and in sight of. Fort Hamilton, and that they 
had killed and scalped one Tidd, besides killing a 
great number of creatures. — Prov. Ecc, p. 329-31. 



HISTORY OF MONROE COUNTY. 171 

Letter from Conrad Weiser to William Parsons. 

Reading, Jlpril21th, 1757. 
Gentlemen t 

I am from good authority informed, that the ene- 
my Indians have attacked the frontiers in Northamp- 
ton county, and that intelligence has been given to an 
officer of credit by a friend Indian, that a considerable 
body of French and their Indians design again to 
invade the province, and a number are on their way 
to fall afresh on the Minnisinks, or posts adjacent. 

The particular view of the Ohio Indians at this 
time, as it is reasonably supposed, is to obstruct the 
Susquehanna Indians in their treaty with the English, 
and to prevent thereby a well established peace be- 
tween them. How the forces within the battalion I 
hav^e the honor to command, may be disposed of upon 
the expected incursion of the savages and the French, 
Avho prompt them with a cruelty equal to that of the 
barbarians, I cannot say, but you may depend upon 
it, that I shall endeavor to serve the country by do- 
ing all in my power to succor every distressed part, as 
soon as possible. 

But, gentlemen, you must know that the number of 
forts which are on the east side of the Susquehanna. 
Avill require a very large part of the first battalion to 
garrison them, and to allow of scouting parties, to 
watch the motion of the barbarians. It will therefore 
be necessary, that the inhabitants should do all in 
their power to defend themselves and neighbors- 
against an enemy, whom we know by experience to 
strike terror wherever they commit their ravages. 

I recommend it to you, to persuade your neighbors 
to associate themselves immediately into companies 
imder discreet officers of their own choice, that we 
may be able to preserve our own, and the lives of 
our tender wives and children. Great must be the 
advantage we shall give the enemy, if we are unpre- 
pared upon their sudden invasion. It needs not 



172 HISTORY OF MONROE COUNTY. 

much reflection, upon what happened about sixteen 
months ago, to bring to our minds the amazement and 
confusion with which the spirits of our people were 
affected upon a sudden incursion of Indians, of whose 
number we were never well informed. It would ap- 
pear as if I had an ill opinion of the dispositions 
of mj'' countrymen, to susggest any special motives 
upon this occasion. 

I only pray that divine providence may direct you 
to propose measures, and then you cannot fail of suc- 
cess in an endeavor to serve your country — in which 
service you may depend on my promise, that you will 
be ever joined. 

Gentlemen, 

Your most humble servant, 

CONRAD WEISER. 

Lieut. ColoneL 

Price township is one of the north-eastern town- 
ships of Monroe county, and is bounded on the north 
and east by Pike county; on the south by Middle 
Smithfield township; on the west by Coolbaugh. 
The greater part of this township is hilly and broken, 
and a dense forest, with a sparse population, not ex- 
ceeding four hundred. It is emphatically a lumber 
township; there are ten or fifteen saw mills, and one 
grist mill in it. Agriculture has received but little 
attention : though parts of it, if properly cultivated, 
would yield a sufficiency to repay the husbandman 
for his labor. Much of the land is classed among 
unseated lands. Eighteen thousand acres of this kind 
of land, in this township, were oifered for sale by the 
county treasurer, in 1844, to pay the arrears of taxes 
due thereon, and the costs of such sale. 

The real and personal estate, exclusive of unseated 
lands, assessed in 1844, amounted to $25,523 25; 
trades and occupations, '811,700 00. 

Coolbaugh township, a northern township, is 
bounded on the north-west by Luzerne county; on 



HISTORY OF MONROE COUNTY. 173 

the north by Wayne and Pike counties ; on the east 
by Price and Middle Smithfield townships; and on 
the south by Tobyhanna township. The surface 
of this township is hilly, and much of it rocky. 
Through this region there are several lakes or 
ponds; the Tobyhanna creek and several of its 
branches, rise here in the midst of a wilderness; 
it runs westward, and falls into the Lehigh, be- 
low Stoddartsville. The streams, through here, 
are generally rapid, and do afford an incalculable 
amount of water power for useful purposes, some of 
which is employed by saw mills and grist mills. By 
far the greater part of this township is thinly inhabit- 
ed. In 1840, there were only one hundred and fifty- 
nine inhabitants in the township. Much, or the greater 
portion, is unseated land. In 1844, about twenty- 
three thousand acres of land, in this township, was 
offered for sale by the treasurer of the county, to pay 
the arrears of taxes due thereon, and to defray the 
expenses of sales. 

This township, and region of country, generally, 
present attractions to the sportsman ; deer and bears 
are common, and all the streams abound with trout ; 
the finny race is abundant. 

Nagleville is a post village, laid out about twenty 
years ago, by George Nagle ; it is on the Drinker 
turnpike road, consisting of six or seven dwelling's, 
one store, a tavern, and two saw mills. 

Spruce Grove, a post village, laid out by Jasper 
Vliet, some fifteen or twenty years ago, contains eight 
dwellings, a tavern, and a blacksmith shop. 

Saxville, a post village, laid out at least thirty years 
ago, by George Sax, consisting of ten dwellings and 
one tavern. This place is well known as the Shades 
of Death. 

Tobyhanna toionship, a north-western township, 
is bounded on the north-west by Luzerne county ; 
and on the north-east by Coolbaugh township ; on 



1 74 HISTORY OF MONROE COUNTY. 

the south by Pokono ; and on the west by Carbon 
county. The surface of this township is hilly ; the 
soil gravel, and rather barren. It is watered by the 
Tobyhanna creek, and several smaller streams. The 
country, here, is a comparative desert, and very thinly 
inhabited. Much of the land is unseated. In 1844, 
more than thirty thousand acres were otfered for sale 
i)y the treasurer of the county, to pay the arrears of 
taxes thereon. 

This township, it is said, contains nearly thirty saw 
mills. It is a great township for timber. Here are 
the Shades of Death, or the Great Swamp, covered 
with dense forests of pine, and, until lately, little in- 
habited ; but since the improvement from Mauch 
Chunk to Stoddartsville has been completed, settle- 
ments have been made, and saw mills erected. It is 
well timbered ; besides the pine, there is an abun- 
dance of hemlock, double spruce,oak, chestnut and 
wild cherry. The turnpike, from Philadelphia to 
Wilkesbarre, passes through here. 

The population of 1830, was 279; in 1840, 595; 
at present, 1845, it may exceed 900. The assessments 
of real and personal property, exclusive of unseated 
lands, amounted to ^13,650; trades and occupations, 
S950 00. 

In the year 1779, General Sullivan, with an army 
of two thousand five hundred men, on his way to drive 
the British and Indians from Wyoming, passed 
through here. In August, the 20th, he encamped all 
night at what was then known as Chouder Camp. 
On his return from Wyoming to Easton, he again 
encamped here. In his journal, it is recorded, that 
on the 10th of October, 1779, the army began their 
march from Wyoming to Easton, but on account of 
the badness of the road, they were obliged to encamp 
four miles from Wyoming. 

October 11th — Continued our march to the edge of 
tlie Great Swamp, and encamped. 

October 12th — Continued the march through the 
Great Swamp, the road beirtg bad. The pack horses 



HISTORY OF MONROE GOUNTT. 175 

took a wrong road, and the troops were obliged to 
lie without their tents^ or covering, during a very 
stormy night. Encamped at Cliouder Camp. 

October 13th — Marched to Brinker's mill, where 
the Pack horses came up.* 

Pokono township is bounded on the north-west and 
north-east by Tobyhanna township and Middle 
Smithfield ; south-east and south by Stroud, Hamil- 
ton and Chestnuthill township ; on the west by Carbon 
county. The surface of this township is mountainous; 
the soil, gravel, and naturally barren. It has its name 
from the Pokono mountain, which extends across it. 
The Pokono is the second range of mountains run- 
ning parallel with the Kittatining, and is distant from 
it from seven to ten miles. It is very much broken, 
and irregular, more so than the Blue mountain or 
Kittatining. This mountain bears several local names. 
In this township it is called Pokono; near the Lehigh 
river, Pohopoko or Pocko-Pockto; west of the Lehigh, 
for several miles, Mahoning and Pokono township 
is drained by the west branch of Brodhead's creek, 
and by Sullivan's, Pokono and M'Michael's creeks. 
Sullivan's creek, which rises in Tobyhanna township, 
and flowing an eastern and southern course, falls into 
Smithfield creek, was named after General Sullivan, 
who marched through this region of country, with an 
army ef 2,500 men, to Wyoming, in 1774. 

Much of the land, in this township, is classed among 
unseated lands. In 1844, the treasurer of the county 
offered to sell about twelve thousand acres, to pay the 
arrears of taxes due thereon. The population of this 
township was, in 1830, 564; in 1840, 973; there were 
in it, two grist mills and twelve saw mills. The 
valuation of real and personal property, in 1844, was 
1570,196. 

Bartonsvilky a post village, was laid out by Joseph. 

• Haz. Reg. xiv. 76. 



176 HISTORY OF MONROE COUNTY. 

Barton, twelve or fifteen years ago; it consists of eight 
or nine dwellings, one store, a tavern, a grist mill, an 
extensive tannery, a blacksmith shop, and a cooper 
shop. 

Tannersville, a post village, laid out by Joseph 
Edinger, eighteen or twenty years ago. It consists 
iyi about twenty houses, two stores, one tavern, a 
blacksmith shop, a tannery, a school house, a Luthe- 
ran and German Reformed church. This place is 
remarkable for the murder of the Larners, by the In- 
dians, about the year 1780.* The facts tou'ching this 
murder, are, in a few words, as follows : 

Some time in the month of June, 1780 (?) the Lar- 
ners were surprised by several Indians, who shot the 
father and mother of the family ; the sons made their 
escape — one of them was hotly pursued by an In- 
dian ; he, however, succeeded to get into a standing 
rye-field, concealed himself behind a large stump, 
watching the movements of the savage, whom he 
soon discovered, and, as he thought, unknown to 
young Larner, also concealed himself, some forty or 
fifty yards off, behind a stump, watingtill his marked 
victim should move, when he would speed a buUer 
through him. Young Larner took off his hat, placed 
it on a loose root, with which he lifted the hat a few 
inches to one side of the stump, the Indian perceiv- 
ing the hat, thought that he was about looking from 
behhid the stump to see where his pursuer was — at 
this instant the Indian fired ; no sooner had he dis- 
charged his rifle, than Larner rose up and shot tlie 
Indian dead on the spot. 

General Sullivan, on his way from Easton to Wyo- 
ming, hi 1779, encamped here on the 19th of June. 
On the ISth he had encamped at Helliard's tavern, 
eleven miles from Easton. June 19, marched to 
Larney's (Larner's) tavern, or Pokanose (Pocono) 

* Those who communicated the facts of this murder to the. 
writer, were unable to state the precise time when it occurred : 
but said that it was about the time of ihe Revolution. 



HISTORY OP MONROE COUNTY. 177 

point — 20th, to Chouder camp. — Sullivan's Jour- 
nal — Haz. Reg. xiv. p. 72. 

Chestnuthill township is bounded on the north by 
Pocono township ; on the north-east by Pocono and 
Hamilton; on the south by Ross; on the west by 
Carbon county. The surtace of this township is 
partly hilly and partly level ; the soil gravel, it is in 
some places being improved, and amply repays the 
labor of the farmers ; though some considerable por- 
tion of the land is classed among unseated lands — 
about one sixth of the township. There are two promi- 
nent hills ; a lofty spur, called Chestnut hill, giving 
name to the township, and Prospect hill, in the north- 
west part of the township. The township is watered 
by Hoeth's, or Head's creek, which rises in this town- 
ship, and by a south-western course, flows into " Big 
creek," in Towamensing township. Carbon county. 

It was on this creek that the Indians committed 
several murders, in December, 1755, as appears from 
the following deposition : 

The 12th day of December, 1755, personally ap- 
peared before me, William Parsons, one of his majes- 
ty's justices of the peace, for the county of North- 
ampton, Michael Hute, aged twenty-one years, who 
being duly sworn on the Holy Evangelists of 
Almighty God, did depose and declare, that last 
Wednesday, about six o'clock, afternoon, a company 
of Indians, about five in number, attacked the house of 
Frederick Hoeth about twelve miles eastward from 
Guaden HutteR,on Pocho Pochtocreek; that the fami- 
ly being at supper, the Indians shot into the house 
and wounded a woman ; at the next shot they killed 
Frederick Hoeth himself, and shot several times more, 
whereupon all ran out of the house that could. The 
Indians immediately set fire to the house, mill and 
stables. Hoeth's wife ran into the bake house, which 
was also set on fire. The poor woman ran out 
through the flames, and being very much burned, 
she ran into the water, and there died ! The Indians 
L 



178 HISTORY OF AfONROE COUNTT. 

cut the belly open, and used her otherwise inhuman- 
ly. They killed and scalped a daughter; and he 
thinks that three other children, who were of the- 
family, were burnt. Three of Hoeth's daughters are 
missing, with another woman, who are supposed tc 
be carried off. In the action, one Indian was killed 
and another wounded. And further saith not.* 

JOHN MICHAEL HUTE. 

Sworn at Easton, the day and year above said, be- 
fore me. 

WM. PARSONS. 

This township contains five grist mills, nineteen 
saw mills, a Luthern and German Reformed church. 
The population in 1830, was 940 ; in 1840, 1318. The 
assessment of real and personal estate in 1844, was 
S129,730 00 ; trades and occupations, ^34,780 00. 
About four thousand acres of unseated land was of- 
fered for sale by the county treasurer, to pay the ar- 
rears of taxes due thereon. 

Hoss toiunship is bounded on the north by Chest • 
nuthill township ; on the east by Hamilton ; on the 
south by Northampton comity ; on the west by Car- 
bon county. The surface of this township in the 
south, is mountainous ; on the north pretty level ; soil 
gravel and some limestone. Much of the land is 
pretty well improved and yields abundantly. It is 
drained by the head waters of the Aquanshicola 
creek, which rises about a mile east of the Wind Gap,, 
and running through this township a south-westerly 
course along the Blue mountain, fails into the Lehigh 
river at its. entrance into tlie Water Gap. It is a 
rapid stream, and drives several mills. 

The Wind Gap is a singular opening through the 
mountain, through which no stream passes ; but th& 
almost level crest line of the mountain is here de- 
pressed nearly as low as the country on each side ; for 

♦N» ProT. Eec. p. 332, 



HISTORY OF MONROE COUKTT. 179 

i% notch in the mountain, of peculiar convenience for 
the passage of travellers and teams, and towards 
which the leading roads on both sides converge, and 
pass through it in one great thoroughfare. 

The northern turnpike from Easton to Berwick, 
passes through this township. A considerable por- 
tion of the land is classed among unseated lands; 
several thousand acres were offered for sale by the 
county treasurer in 1844, to pay the arrears of taxes 
due thereon. 

It contains eight grist mills and nineteen saw 
mills. The population in 1840, was 987 ; at present 
rising 1,100. Assessment of real estate in 1844, was 
$113,599 00. 

KunJdesville, bearing the name of its proprietor, 
was started about fifteen years ago, consisting of 
seven or eight dwellings, one tavern, one store, a 
school house, a German Reformed church and a grist 
mill. 

Hamilton township is bounded on the north by 
Pocono township ; on the south by Northampton 
■county ; west by Ross ; and north-west by Chestnut- 
hill township. The surface of this township is diver- 
sified, mountainous, hilly and level ; soil gravel ; the 
east end of it is pretty well improved. It is drained 
by M'Michael's creek, Pocono and Cherry creeks. 
The heads of Aquinschicola and Cherry creeks spring 
not very far from each other. These might be con- 
nected, and following them by a canal, would open a 
new outlet for coal from the Lehigh to the Delaware. 

The population of 1830, was 1,428 ; in 1840, 1,508. 
The assessed valuation of real and personal property 
in 1844, was $129,730 00; trades and occupations. 
$34,780 00. 

Snydersville, a post village, laid out by able Pat- 
terge, some thirty years ago, consists of eight dwell- 
mgs, one store, one tavern, and a school house. 

Kelkrsville, a post village, laid out by Georgt; 



ISO HISTORY OF MONROE COUNTT. 

Keller, more than thirty years ago, consists of ten 
dwellings, one store, one tavern, a school house, a 
grist mill, a clover mill, and a German Reformed and 
Lutheran church near it. When the county seat for 
Monroe was selected, there were strong hopes Kel- 
lersville would become the site. Mighty efforts were 
made to effect this — all failed — Stroudsburg was 
chosen. 

Fennersville, a post village, laid out by Henry 
Fenner, about the time Kellersville was commenced, 
consists of twelve or thirteen dwellings, one store, one 
tavern, two grist mills, a carding machine, and the 
usual number of handicrafts in villages thus situated. 

SaylorsviUe, a post village, laid out by Charles 
Saylor, about twenty years ago, consists of ten or 
twelve dwellings, one tavern, one store, a wagon 
maker shop and cooper shop. 

The inhabitants of this township, as well as the 
early settlers on the Delaware and Broadhead creek, 
were much exposed to the incursions of the savages, 
who committed many murders, under circumstances 
of great cruelty. 

In a letter dated December IS, 1755, it is stated, 
"that a party of Indians had gathered behind the 
Blue mountains, to the number of two hundred, and 
had burned the greater pai't of the buildings, and 
killed upwards of a hundred of the inhabitants."' 
Another letter dated the 20th December, says : " The 
barbarous and bloody scene which is now open in the 
upper parts of Northampton county, is the most la- 
mentable that perhaps ever appeared. There may 
be seen horror and desolation ; populous settlements 
deserted ; villages laid in ashes ; men, women and 
children massacred, some found in the woods ver)' 
nauseous, for want of interment, some just reeking 
from the hands of their savage slaughterers, and 
some hacked and covered all over with wounds !" 
To this letter was annexed a list of seventy-eight 
persons killed, and more than forty settlements 
biu-ned. 



CHAPTEEXIII. 

CARBON COUNTY ERECTED, &c. 

Carbon County was erected out of Northampton 
and Monroe counties, agreeably to the foUowmg act 
of Assembly : 

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Repre- 
sentatives of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, in 
General Assembly met, and it is hereby enacted by 
the authority of the same, That all those parts of the 
counties of Northampton and Monroe, lying within 
the following bounds, viz : Beginning at the north- 
west corner of Northampton county ; thence, south- 
wardly along the said line, till it intersects ihe north- 
em line of Lehigh county ; thence, eastwardly along 
the top of the Blue mountain, to the south-west cor- 
ner of Monroe county ; thence, northwardly along 
the Monroe county line, and continue the same point 
of compass in a direct line through Tobyhanna town- 
ship, in Monroe county, to such point as may strike the 
Luzerne county line ; thence, westwardly along the 
Luzerne county line, to the place of beginning, shall 
be, and the same is, according to the foregoing lines, 
declared to be erected into a separate county, to be 
called Carbon : Provided, That territory from Mon- 
roe comity, shall only embrace the township of Penn 
Forest, and that the said township shall constitute the 
whole of the territory taken from Monroe county, by 
tlie provisions of this act. 

John D. Bowman, Thomas Weiss, John Fatzinger, 
Abram Shortz and Samuel Wolf, were appointed 
trustees, to receive written offers of donations in real 



182 HISTORY OP CARBOJr COUWTT, 

estate and money, towards defraying the expenses of 
the lands and public buildings, for the use of the 
county of Carbon. 

Passed and approved March 13, 1843. — Laws of 
Pa., for 1843,;?. 85. 

Carbon county. — Extracts from records of court. 
First — December term, 1843. 

Hon. N. B. Eldred, President, Asa Packer and 
Jacob Dinkey, Associates. The grand jurors were 
Charles J. Balliet, Abraham Beer, William Baker, 
Jonas Bauman, Andrew Cooper, John Dengler, 
Henry Ebert, Jacob Fitzinger, Abner Huston, Joseph 
Hahn, Peter Haberman, Abraham Harris, DanieJ 
Kister, George Kissner, John Lomison, Barnard M*- 
Clane, James M. Marsh, Abraham Mayer, N. R. 
Penrose, William Reng, Reuben Peters, John Frainer. 
Daniel Wentz, W. H. Wilson. 

Attorneys at the first court — W. H. Butler, James 
R. Struthers, 0. W. Wheeler, Pros. Jit., F. J. Osborn, 
W. Davis, John D. Morris, Silas E. Buzzard, Johrs 
W. Hornbeck, G. W. Tates, J. Glancy Jones, John 
Shouse, Christopher Loeser. Others have since been 
admitted. 

Carbon county is bounded on the north-west by 
Luzerne county ; east by Monroe ; south by North- 
ampton and Lehigh ; and south-west by Schuylkill 
county. The county is about twenty miles long and 
nineteen broad ; comprising an area of about three 
hundred and ninety square miles. 

The county is generally mountainous, and there is 
not much arable land in the northern portion of it ; 
Mahoning valley, in Ihe south-west, is well adapted to 
agriculture, and if carefully cultivated, is abundantly 
productive. The south-eastern portion contains some 
land tolerably well adapted to cultivation. Though, 
in an agricultural point of view, it is not, and never 
will be, a farming country ; still it is rich in mineral 
wealth, and valuable for its forests of pine. 

The Blue mountain forms the southern boundary. 



niSTonT OS" CAIIBON COUNTV. 183 

ISorth of this is a succession of small ridges, called by 
various names, such as Fire- Line-hill, Mahoning 
ridge, Mauch Chunk mountain, on the west of the 
Lehigh river. Beyond this is the Broad mountainy 
extending to the eastward of the river, and still fur- 
ther east, is the Pohokopo, or Pokono. North of the 
Broad mountain are Spring mountain and Bald 
ridge. These mountains rise from six hundred to a 
thousand feet above the Lehigh river. 

This county is well supplied with water. Besides 
the Lehigh, there are many other streams, yielding a 
vast amount of water power ; but little of which, 
however, has been applied in that way, except to 
saw mills. The principal streams are the Lehigh 
river, Aquanshicola creek, Big creek. Lizard creek, 
Mahoning creek, Nesquihoning creek, Quakake 
creek. Hay's creek, Hickory creek, or Griffith's run, 
Muddy run, and several others — all of which will be 
noticed in the sequel. 

The Lehigh river is a branch of the Delaware, and 
receives its name from the aborigines of this country, 
who called it Lccha,QX Lechaw, which, it is said, to 
signify West Branch. It rises in the Great Sioamp, 
or Shades of Death, and in its course divides 
the county into two equal parts. The following 
graphic description, from the pen of a gentleman 
who visited this county in September, 1844, is here 
introduced as a description of a part of the county 
and the river. 

RAILROAD FROM WILKESBARRE TO WHITEHAVEN. 

Bending my course southward, I left Wilkesbarre 
in the morning for Mauch Chunk : — This route passes 
over the railroad from the former village, to White- 
haven, owned by the Lehigh Navigation Company, 
and intended to connect their improvement with the 
valley of the Susquehanna. 

The work is heavy, and although not complete, 
must have been already enormously expensive. A 



154 HISTORY OP LKHIGH COVyTY, 

number of inclined planes are finished, and a tunnel 
of one thousand eight hundred feet in length is in 
progress. We traversed the line by horse power; 
ascending the planes at a snail pace, and descend- 
ing them by the force of gravity, vvith fearful 
rapidity. After dashing through excavations and 
over enibankmetUs, in the descent of a heavy 
grade, for several miles, we reached Whitehaven at 
noon. 

DESCENT OF THE LEHIGH. 

Whitehaven is situated at the head of the Lehigh 
Navigation, and some eight or ten miles above the 
commencement of the coal formation. Its trade 
is therefore confined to the running of lumber; 
and this, judging from the number of saw mills 
in the place, and its vicinity, and the immense 
quantity of board piles that, for several miles above 
it, literally line the banks of the river, must be ex- 
tensive. 

We here took passage in a packet for Mauch 
Chunk. You will excuse a somewhat detailed account 
of my passage down this fair stream. The descent 
of the Lehigh is interesting, both on account of the 
almost gigantic construction of the canal and the mag- 
nificent wildness of the natural scenery. The fall in 
the river, between Whitehaven and Mauch Chunk, a 
distance of but twenty-five miles, is 642 feet and is 
overcome by 29 locks, varying from fifteen to upwards 
of thirty feet in depth. These locks, even before the 
destructive freshet of 1841, were substantially con- 
structed, but those that were then destroyed, have 
been since rebuilt on a larger and still more massive 
scale. They have been widened so as to admit two 
boats at once, and from the inspection of an unprac- 
tised eye, I judged their walls to be five feet in thick- 
ness and their abutments of solid mason work to their 
"wickers, are filled and emptied as expeditiously as 
the eight feet locks on om* state canals. Between 



r 



HISTORY OF CARBON COUNTY. 185 

Whitehaven and Mauch Chunk, the navigation is 
almost entirely" by slackwater. 

The scenery, immediately upon leaving Whiteha- 
ven, is striking, but improves gradually, as you de- 
scend the Lehigh, until, some miles above Mauch 
Chunk, it becomes wild and picturesque in the high- 
est degree. The dark waters of the river, dyed almost 
to a black, by the sap of the hemlock soaking in it, 
every where enclosed by mountains of from 300 to 
700 feet in height, and conined to a channel, scarcely 
300 feet wide, trace a circuitous course through, per- 
haps, the wildest and most rugged mountain region 
of the State. Determined to enjoy it to the utmost, I 
furnished myself with a prime principe, and taking 
my seat upon the deck, fairly drank in the varied 
magnificence of the ever cbanging scene. Beneath 
me, the Lehigh either reposed in a black, glittering 
sheet, or bounded over its rocky channel in wreaths 
of snow-white foam; about me, on every side, for 
hundreds of feet, rose the pine-capped mountains, 
here, dark, jagged and precipitous, interspersed only 
with occasional forest trees, growing in the ravines, 
or amongst the clefts and crevices of the rocks ; now, 
covered with rolling stones nearly to their summits,. 
• bald and desolate; and again, sloping to the river's 
bank, evenly clad with bright green foliage, and af- 
fording the eye a grateful relief from the almost pain- 
ful grandeur of the ruder scenes; above me, was the 
deep blue sky of a summer's eve, enhancing the efiect 
of every view, by the contrast of its serene expanse 
with the wild confusion of the mountain scenery 
around. Every where the mountain sides were spot- 
ted with tall, gaunt, leafless trunks of Avithered pines, 
blasted by lightning, or scorched by the hand of man, 
and requiring but slight aid from the excited imagi- 
nation, to seem the gigantic guards of these Satanic 
fortresses. Along the course of the river, not a single 
rod of arable land is to be perceived; the mountains 
sink sheer to the water's edge. In wild magnificence 
of scenery, I have seen nothing on the Hudson, tho 



185 HISTORY OF CARBON COUNTY. 

Susquehanna, or the Juniata, to compare with the 
banks of the Lehigh. 

Whilst seated, as described above, I felt a romantic 
ardour gradually creep along my nerves, and being, 
from reason and experience, most horribly prejudiced 
against the sentimental, I sought refuge from my feel- 
ings by diving to that most common-place of all 
places, the cabin of the canal boat ; but I was not 
destined to escape so easily. Instead of the relief I 
anticipated, my ears were greeted with an amorous 
passage between the cabin boy and our pretty-cook 
maid — Bah ! I stretched myself upon a settee, and 
amid pleasing reflections upon the omnipotence of 
love, that is able to convert the steerage of a canal 
boat into a paradise, composed myself to sleep, and 
awoke at Maucli Chunk. — Lancaster Examiner and 
Herald Sept. 18, 1844. 

There are, besides Mauch Chunk, the county town, 
and a number of small villages, which will be noticed 
below. There are several grist mills, and a number 
of saw mills in this county; also several furnaces, 
forges and foundries. 

The county is divided into the following townships, 
viz: East Penn, Mauch Chunk, Lausanne, Upper 
Towamensing, Lower Towamensing, Penn Forest, 
Mahoning and Banks, having an aggregate popula- 
tion of about eight thousand. 

The early history of Carbon county is merged with 
that of Northampton. The first settlement was made 
in Mahoning township, on the north side of Mahoning 
deck, about half a mile above its junction with the 
Lehigh river. 



CHAPTER XIV. 

TOPOGRAPHY OF TOWNSHIPS, &c. 

Mauch Chunk township is named from Mauch 
Chunk mountain, in this township. The name of 
the mountain is of Indian origin, and in the language 
of the Lenni Lenapi, or Delaware Indians, is said to 
signify Bear Tnountain. 

This township is bounded on the north-west by 
Lausanne; north-east by Upper Towamensing; south 
by Mahoning ; and north-west by Schuylkill county. 
The surface of this township is mountainous, includ- 
ing parts of Mauch Cluuik, Nesquihoning and Broad 
mountains, on the west side of the Lehigh river; and 
parts of the Broad mountain. Big Creek mountain, 
and Kettle mountain on the east side of the Lehigh 
river. 

The soil is gravel, and naturally, not very produc- 
tive, yet portions of this township are arable and 
have been made productive, by proper attention be- 
ing paid to the cultivation of the land. The township 
is drained by Beaver creek, Mauch Chunk creek, 
Room Run, Nesquihoning creek, and Kettle creek. 
The principal of these are Mauch Chunk, and Nes- 
quihoning creeks. 

Mauch Chunk creek receives its name from tlie 
mountain, at the foot of which it takes its rise, and 
tracing along the mountain, in a very direct line, falls 
into the Lehigh, on the west side, about a mile and a 
half below the Nesquihoning. It is very rapid, and 
has several mills erected on it. 

Nesquihoning creek rises at the foot of the Broad 



188 HISTORY OP CARBON COUNTY. 

mountain, on the south side, and running easterly, 
between Broad mountain and Mauch Chunk moun- 
tain, which rise hke a rampart on each side, it falls 
into the Lehigh, at Lausanne. It is very rapid for 
about two miles from its mouth, where it becomes 
more gentle, passing through natural meadows. Seve- 
ral mills are erected on it. 

A large portion of this township belongs to the Le- 
high Navigation and Coal Company. They own 
vising of thirteen thousand acres. Several thousand 
acres, in this township, are classed among unseated 
lands, the greater portion of which was offered, in 
1844, by the county treasurer for sale, to pay the ar- 
rears of taxes due thereon. 

The population, in 1830, was 1,348; in 1840,2,193. 
The county tax, for 1844, was $1,521 56; for state 
purposes, $1,056 29. 

Mauch Chunk is the principal town in this town- 
ship, and in the county, and is, at present, the seat 
of justice for the county. It is on the west bank of 
the Lehigh river, twelve miles above the Water Gap, 
forty-six miles by the navigation from Easton, and 
nearly thirty from Allentown. The situation is ro- 
mantic and picturesque, the town, in the glen, being 
eiicircled by steep mountain acclivities, which rise, in 
some places, precipitously from the river, to a height 
of eight hundred or a thousand feet. 

The place was first started about twenty-seven 
years ago, in connection with the operations of the 
Lehigh Coal and Navigation Company, Avhich was 
formed, in its incipiency, fifty years ago, and fully in- 
corporated in 1816. The town was originally their 
property, and its prosperity is wholly owing to the 
enterprize of the company. 

The place is much resorted to in the summer sea- 
son, on account of the many stupendous attractions, 
and general objects of interest. The inhabitants are 
moral, intelligent and hospitable. Its improvement, 
in every respect, has been considerable, within the 



1 



HISTORY OF CARBON COUNTY. 18S 

last ten years. Numerous are the descriptions given 
of this place by gentlemen who have visited here. A 
writer in the Village Record, says : " It was in July 
1825, when I last visited Mauch Chunk — a few steps 
from the landing on the Lehigh, brought me to 
Mauch Chunk Hotel, a large and elegant building, 
well finished and furnished, and crowded with well 
dressed, fashionable people, evidently strangers, on a 
visit to the mines. A glance around the tea-table, 
told me there was both beauty and grace among the 
female visitants. An examination of the book, where 
each person's name is recorded, informed me that 
some of the first characters and talent of the state 
were guests at the mansion." 

Another writer, in the Bucks County Intelligen- 
ce!' of 1831, says: "About two miles south of Mauch 
Chunk, we came upon the lower boundary of the 
Company's lands, where the hills on each side of the 
river, acquire a great elevation, and have a very bold 
appearance. The river is confined in a narrow bed, 
and the road on one side, and the canal and tow-path 
on the other, are cut along the base of the hill, as far 
from the river as the nature of the ground would ad- 
mit. 

" The irregular course of the river, and the hills 
mounting up several hundred feet, rendered the view, 
up and down the river, rather wild and dreary, until 
we approached near enough to see the neat white 
buildings of Mauch Chunk, which presented a beau- 
tiful contrast to the hills, covered with deep verdure 
above, and the swift flowing and dashing current of 
water below. Upon entering the village, the first 
objects which presented to the eye, were the exten- 
sive buildings occupied by Mr. Kimball, as a hotel, 
and which is kept in good style, not inferior to many 
of the fashionable hotels of our Atlantic cities. High- 
er up the bank of the river, are several extensive saw 
mills,. and a large grist mill, the store house, boat 
house, railroad shoot, &c., with here and there a 
dwelling. About the centre of these improvements. 



190 HISTORY OF CARBON COUNTY. 

there is a break in the hill, and a considerable ravine, 
down which flows a stream, sufficient for turning va- 
rious kinds of machinery. Along this stream, where- 
ever the ground will admit of it, most of the dwelling 
houses and workshops are erected." 

There is perhaps not another place in Pennsylva- 
nia that surpasses Mauch Chunk, where so much of 
fhe truly sublime and picturesque is so magnificently 
displayed, as here. This place is well worthy a visit, 
and a journey of hundreds of miles, to make it. To 
describe all that is attractive, would transcend the 
limits prescribed us. " The coal mines, the inclined 
planes, and all the machinery and appliances necessa- 
ry for mining, transporting and shipping coal, may be 
seen here on a large and improved scale ; while the 
pure mountain air, gushing fountains of the coldest 
and purest water, with beautiful views of wild and 
sublime mountain scenery, give additional charms to 
the place." 

The public buildings are the court house and jail. 
The court house was presented to the county by 
the Lehigh Navigation and Coal Company. The 
citizens had it repaired, and fitted up for forensic pur- 
poses, and erected the jail, at an expense of about four 
thousand dollars. There are three churches here : 
Presbyterian, Methodist and Evangelical Association. 
The Odd Fellows erected a commodious hall in 1844. 
There are three taverns and six stores here ; a foun- 
dery, owned by John Fatzinger, Esq., and a fui'nace 
below the town, ov/ned by Mr. Richards. 

There is a weekly paper published here, called 
The Carbon County Gazette, edited by A. L. Fos- 
ter, Esq. Some twelve years ago, Mr. Foster com- 
menced the Mauch Chunk Courier in this place. 
The population, which is an exceedingly industrious 
one, is between eleven and twelve hundred. One of 
the first public school houses that is to be met with in 
the state, out of Philadelphia, is to be found at 
Mauch Chunk. The schools here are well conducted. 



HISTORY OF CARBON COUNTY. 191 

This place suffered much from the great freshet in 
January, 1841. 

At Mauch Chunk, the town was inundated, and 
considerable damage sustained. The Courier Extra, 
says : " It is impossible to estimate any thing near 
the truth of the amount of damage our citizens have 
sustained — every one has lost more or less, and some 
eighteen or twenty families within three miles of our 
village are left dependant upon the mercies of the 
more fortunate, without house, bed or provisions ; 
and three children of Mr. Adam Beer, (the mother 
barely escapeing with an infant in her arms,) and the 
mother and three f hildren of another, have perished 
in the flood, as their houses were borne down by its 
dreadful course. The bodies of two of Mr. Beer's 
children were recovered from the water, and should 
the other be found, the friends of humanity will re- 
ceive the thanks of the afflicted parents, by commu- 
nicating the information to them.'' 

As it may be interesting to the general reader, 
place is given here to the following article. As this 
township forms a very distinguished portion of the 
coal formation of the the state : 

MAUCH CHUNK MOUNTAIN. 

" Under this title, it is proposed to give an account 
of the famous coal mountain, and the magnificent im- 
provements of which it has been the cause. The 
name of this momitain is of Indian origin, and in the 
language of the Lenni Lenappi, (Delawares,) is said 
to signify Bear raaiintain. It forms a very distin- 
guished portion of the coal formation of the state, and 
we arc told that we owe our knowledge of its min- 
eral treasures to sneer accident ; that a hunter dis- 
covered the coal bed, while in search of game, beneath 
the roots of an uptorn pine. The following account 
of this important event is given by the venerable Dr. 
Thomas C. James, of Philadelphia, who, in the year 
1804, in company with Anthony Morris, Esq., during 

\ 



192 HISTORY OF CARBON COUNTY. 

jm excursion to some lands on the Lehigh, their joint 
property, visited the mountain. 

" In the course of our pilgrimage, we reached the 
summit of the Mauch Chunk mountain, the present 
site of the mine, or rather quarry, of anthracite coal. 
At that time there were only to be seen three or four 
small pits, which had much the appearance of the 
commencement of rude wells, into one of which, our 
guide f Philip GinterJ descended with'^great ease, 
and threw up some pieces of coal for our examina- 
tion. After which, whilst we lingered on the spot, 
contemplating the wildnessof the sc^Mie, honest Philip 
amused us with the following nara^ve of the original 
discovery of this most valuable of minerals, now pro- 
mising, from its general diffusion, so much of wealth 
and comfort to a great portion of Pennsylvania. 

" He said, when he first took up his residence in 
that district of country, he built for himself a rough 
cabin in the forest, and supported his family by the 
proceeds of his rifle ; being literally a hunter of the 
backwoods. The game he shot, including bear and 
deer, he carried to the nearest store, and exchanged 
for other necessaries of life. But at the particular 
time to which he then alluded, he was without a sup- 
ply of food for his family ; and after being out all 
day with his gun in quest of it, he was returning, 
towards evening, over the Mauch Chunk mountain, 
entirely unsuccessful and dispirited ; a drizzling rain 
beginning to fall, and night approaching, he bent his 
course homeward, considering himself one of the most 
forsaken of human beings. As h .; trod slowly over 
the ground, his foot stumbled jRgainst something 
which, by the stroke, was driven before him ; observ- 
ing it to be black, to distinguish w^icli there was just 
light enough remaining, he took it up, and as he had 
often listened to the traditions of the country of the 
existence of coal in the vicinity, it occurred to him, 
that this might be a portion of that " stone coal^^ of 
which he had heard. He accordingly, carefully took 
it with him to his cabhi, and the next day carried it 



HISTORY OF CARBON COUNTY. 193 

to Col. Jacob Weiss, residing at what was then known 
by the name of Fort Allen. The colonel, who was 
alive to the subject, brought the specimen with him 
to Philadelphia, and submitted it to the inspection of 
John Nicholson and Michael Hillegas, Esqrs., and of 
Charles Cist, an intelligent printer, who ascertained 
its nature and qualities, and authorized the colonel to 
satisfy Ginter for his discovery, upon his pointing out 
the precise spot, where he found the coal This was 
done by acceding to Ginter's proposal, of getting 
through the forms of the patent office, the title of a 
small tract of land, which he supposed had never 
been taken up, comprismg the mill seat, on which he 
afterwards built the mill which afforded us the lodg- 
ing of the preceduig night, and which he afterwards 
was unhappily deprived of by the claim of a prior 
survey. 

" Hillegas, Cist, Weiss, and others, immediately 
after, (about the beginning of the year 1792,) formed 
the " Lehigh Coal Mine Company," but without a 
charter of incorporation, and took up 8 ar 10,000 
acres of unlocated land, including the Mauch Chunk 
mountain." 

" The mine now v/rought was opened by this com- 
pany ; but the difficulties of transporting the coal to 
market were then insm'mountable, and their enter- 
prise was abandoned. The mine remained in a ne- 
glected state, used only by the smiths and others of 
the immediate vicinity, until the year 1806, when 
Wm. Turnbull, Esq., caused an ark to be constructed 
at Lausanne, v/hich brought to the city two or three 
hundred bushels. A portion was sold to the mana- 
ger of the water works, for the use of the Centre 
Square steam engine. Upon trial here it was deemed 
rather an extinguisher than an aliment of fire, was 
rejected as worthless, and was broken up and spread 
on the walks of the surrounding garden, in the place 
of gravel. 

" The legislature, early aware of the importance of 
the navigation of the Lehigh, passed an act foi its im- 
M 



194 HISTORY or CARBON COUNTT. 

provement in 1771, and others in 1791, 1794,1795, 
1810, 1814 and 1816. Under one of these a compa- 
ny associated, and after expending more than 20,000 
dollars in clearing out channels, relinquished their de- 
sign of perfecting the navigation of the river. 

" In the meanwhile the coal mine company, de- 
sirous to render their property available, granted 
leases to several individuals successively ; the last, for 
a term of ten years, with the privilege of cutting 
timber from their lands, for floating the coal to market, 
was made to Messrs. Cist, Miner & Robinson, upon 
the condition that they should send to Philadelphia 
10,000 bushels of coal per annum, for the benefit of 
the lessees. These gentlemen loaded several arks 
with coal, only three of which reached the city, and 
they abandoned the business at the close of the war 
in 1815. 

" During the war, Virginia coal became very scarce, 
an ! Messrs. White & Erskine Hazard, then engaged 
in the manufacture of iron wire, at the falls of the 
Schuylkill, having learned that Mr. J. Malin had suc- 
ceeded in the use of the Lehigh coal at his rolling 
mill, procured a cart load of it, which cost them a 
dollar per bushel. This quantity was entirely wasted, 
without getting up the requisite heat. Another cart 
load was, however, obtained, and a whole night was 
spent in endeavoring to make a fire in the furnace, 
when the hands shut the furnace door, and departed 
from the mill m despair. Fortunately, one of them, 
who had left his jacket in the mill, returning for it in 
about half an hour, observed the door of the furnace 
to be red hot, and upon opening it, was surprised to 
find the interior at a glowing white heat. The other 
hands were summoned, and fom- separate parcels of 
iron were heated by the same fire, and rolled belore 
renewal. The furnace was then replenished, and as 
letting the fire alone had succeeded so well, that 
method was tried again with a like result. 

"Thenceforth Messrs. White and Hazard continued 
the use of anthracite coal, which they procured from 



HISTORY OF CARBON COUNTT. 1% 

Schuylkill county, in wagons, and occasionally in flats 
by freshets, and also from Lehigh, in one of Messrs. 
Miner & Go's arks. Thus instructed in the invalua- 
ble properties of anthracite, Messrs. White and Ha- 
zard having disposed of their v/orks on the Schuyl- 
kill to the city of Philadelphia, turned their attention 
to the mines of the Lehigh, with a resolution of 
creating adequate means for transporting their wealth 
to market. 

" In January, 1818, they jointly, with Mr. Hants, 
obtained the control of the lands of the Lehigh coal 
mine company. In the succeeding March, the legis- 
lature granted to these gentlemen ample power for 
improving the navigation of the river Lehigh, and 
vested in them, their heirs and assigns, the absolute 
and exclusive use of the waters of the river, not in- 
compatible with the navigation, and the right to levy 
tolls upon boats, rafts, &c,, descending the river, and 
also upon ascending it, in case a slack water naviga- 
tion should be made, upon condition : 1st. That they 
made a descending navigation within six years, from 
the mouth of tlie Nesquihoning creek to the Delaware, 
and from the Great falls to the Nesquihoning, within 
twenty years. 2. That in case the legislature deemed 
such navigation sufficient, the grantees should convert 
the same into a complete slack water navigation, 
erecting one lock or otherdevices, overcoming at least 
six feet fall, yearly, until the whole should be com- 
pleted. 3. That in case of abuse of the privileges 
granted, or neglect to complete the slack water navi- 
gation, Avithin twenty years after requisition made, 
that the state might resume the grant. 4. That the 
state might, after the expiration of thirty-six years 
from the date of the grant, purchase the rights of the 
grantees to the navigation. And 5th. That upon 
such purchase, or resumption, in case of forfeiture, that 
the state should fulfil all the obligations enjoined by 
this act, upon the grantees. 

'- For the purpose of obtaining funds to carry this 
act into effect, and conduct the mining operations ad-^ 



196 HISTORY OF CARBON COUNTT; 

vantageously, Messrs. White, Hants and Hazard^., 
formed, with others, two associations in July, 1818^ 
the one, denominated " The Lehigh Navigation Com- 
pany/' for whose use, they granted to trustees, by 
deed dated 10th August, 1818, all the right vested in 
them by the above mentioned act, to the benefits of 
the river Lehigh, reserving to themselves certain resi- 
duary profits and exclusive privileges in the manage- 
ment of the company ; the other, denominated " Tho 
Lehigh Coal Company,'"' for whose use they also con- 
veyed to trustees, certain estates in sundry tracts of 
coal lands, reserving also to themselves certain resi- 
duary profits, and exclusive privilegss in the manage- 
ment of such company. 

"The navigation company commenced the im- 
provement of the Lehigh in August, 1818. In 1820^ 
coal was sent to Philadelphia, by an artificial navi- 
gation, and sold at ^8 50 per ton, delivered at the 
door of the purchasers. 

" The following plan was adopted, to render the 
passage of the river more facile. The obstacles in the 
bed of the river were removed, and thirteen dams, 
with sluices of various heights, were constructed of 
pine logs, at an average expense of three thousand 
dollars each. The gates of the sluices, of a peculiar 
construction, were invented by Mr. White, (to whom 
the company are indebted for many ingenious im- 
provements,) and merit particular notice. The gates 
in the sluice or lock were attached to the flooring by 
hinges, and rose by the force of water admitted from 
a floom, constructed parallel with the lock, and when 
suspended, forming a section of the dam. When the 
floom was closed, the water beneath the gates. passed 
oft', and they fell by their own weight, and the pres- 
sure of the fluid from the dams. The dam served a 
double purpose, forming pools of navigable water, 
and reservoirs. At fixed periods the arks were passed 
with great rapidity through the sluices ; and the sud- 
den efilux of water gave additional depth and velocity 
to the stream below. These sluices, admirably adap^ 



filSTORY OP CARBON COUNT'P. IS"? 

<5d to the original plan, have proved inefficient for 
canal navigation, and have been, in a great measure, 
and perhaps altogether, abandoned. From Easton, 
the arks pursued the natural channel of the river to 
Trenton, whence a steamboat towed them to the city 
in gangs of eighteen or twenty together. The arks, 
emptied of their freight, were broken up and sold, at 
a considerable loss to the company. These arks were 
rectangular barges, sixteen feet wide by twenty feet 
in length, connected by iron hinges, so that they ac- 
commodated themselves to the motion of the waves. 

" During this amelioration of the navigation, the 
coal company erected mills for grinding grain and 
sawing lumber, and the buildings necessary for shel- 
tering their work people. A large quantity of coal 
was uncovered at the mine, by removing from its 
surface a gravelly loam, from a few inches to four 
feet in depth, and disintegrated slate from tAvo to four 
feet. This process has been continued, until the ex- 
cavation has a superficial area of ten acres, and a 
depth varying from thirty to seventy feet. A road 
was made to the summit of the mountain, distant from 
tlie river nine miles, which was soon after paved with 
«tone, or turnpiked in the best manner, upon which 
seven tons of coal were conveyed with ease, on two 
wagons drawn by four horses. 

" In 1820, the two companies were amalgamated 
under the title of " IVie Lehigh Coal and Navigation 
Company ;" and Messrs. White & Hazard, having 
in the interim acquired the interest of Mr. Hants, 
they obtained for themselves in the union, the privi- 
leges which had been reserved in the original organi- 
zation of the separate companies. 

"By an act of assembly passed 13th February, 
1832, the Lehigh Coal and Navigation Company was 
incorporated, and the property of the prior associa- 
ations, and the privileges created by the act of ISIS, 
were invested in them. Their capital stock was limi- 
ted to $1,000,000, divided into shares of $50 each; 
and of this capital, their former property formed part. 



198 HISTORY OF CARBON COUNTY. 

They were empowered to commence a slack water 
navigation upon the Lehigh, within a year from the 
date of the act. To this company Messrs. W. & H 
became parties, as simple stockholders merely. 

" To facihtate the ascent of the river, the company 
resolved on a lock navigation, on which steam boats 
might be employed. Accordingly a lock was built 
in 182-, at Mauch Chunk, measuring one hun- 
dred and thirty -five feet in length, and thirty in width, 
and the canal, of more than a mile in length, annexed 
to it, was excavated five feet deep, and its banks lined 
with stone. But as this mode was very expensive, 
and the state had commenced the Delaware canal 
from Easton to Bristol, a change in the plan became 
expedient-, and in 1827, the company having in- 
creased their funds by the sale of ten thousand shares, 
the balance of their capital, determined on making a 
canal navigation, which should correspond with the 
Delaware canal. This great work, extending from 
Easton to Mauch Chunk, a distance of forty-six miles 
and three quarters, consisting of ten miles of pools, 
and thirty-six miles and three quartes of canals, was 
commenced in the summer of 1827, and was in condi- 
tion to authorize the company to exact toll thereon 
in July, 1829. The canal is five feet deep, forty-five 
feet wide at the bottom, and sixty feet at top ; the 
banks are firm, and lined chiefly with stone ; the 
locks are twenty -two feet wide, and one hundred feet 
long, and are adapted to pass boats, suited to the 
Delaware canal, in pairs. The ascent of three hun- 
dred and sixty-four feet, is overcome by fifty-four 
locks and nine dams. The whole of the river im- 
provement, from its commencement, as a descending 
navigation, to its final completion, as above, including 
the amount paid to White &; Hazard for their pro- 
perty, rights and privileges, and the extinguishment 
of Hants' claims, cost about $1,558,000. The toll 
houses erected along the canal, are of the most sub- 
stantial and comfortable kind ; and in the completion 
of this noble work, in the language of the acting 



HISTORY OP CARBON COUNTY. 199 

manager, ^ there has been no money expended for 
ornament, though no money has been spared to render 
it somid and permanent.' 

" having thus noticed the operations of this enter- 
prising company, in improving the Lehigh from 
Easton to Mauch Chunk, we proceed to consider 
tlieir labors more immediately connected with the 
raising and shipment of the coal. 

" Mauch Chunk mountain rises precipitately from 
the Lehigh river, where it is also the head of the Nes- 
quihoning mountain, which, at a short distance from 
the river, diverges from Mauch Chunk proper, towards 
the N. W. The Mauch Chunk extends S. W. about 
thirteen miles, to the Little Schuylkill river, which 
divides it from the Tuscarora mountains. Panther 
creek separates it on the north from the radiating hill 
of Nesquihoning, and the Mauch Chunk creek divides 
it from the Mahoning on the south. The vallies 
through which these creeks run, are deep and narrow. 
Exploratons have been made in various parts of this 
mountain, and coal has been discovered through its 
whole extent. 

" The geological structure of this coal formation is 
extremely simple. The upper rock is cornmonly a 
sand stone, or a fragmentary aggregate, of which the 
parts are more or less coarse or fine in ditierent situa- 
tions. In this region there is much pudding stone, or 
conglomerate, and much that would be called gray- 
wacke, by most geologists. In these aggregates 
the parts are of every size, from large pebbles to 
sand. The pebbles are chiefly quartz ; and even in 
the firmest rocks are round, and appear to have been 
worn by attrition. The cement is silicious, and the 
masses frequently possess great firmness, resembling 
the mill stone grit, and sand stones of the English 
coal measures. Beneath this rock there is usually 
some variety of argillaceous slate, which commonly, 
though not universally, forms the roof of the coal ; 
sometimes the sand stone is directly in contact with 



200 HISTORY OF CARBON COUNTY. 

the coals, the slate being omitted. The slate als© 
forms the floor. 

" The great mine, as has already been observed, is 
at the summit of the mountain. The coal is un- 
covered, and fairly laid open to view, and lies in stuh 
pendous masses, which are worked in the open air, 
as in a stone quarry. The excavation is in an angu- 
lar area, and entered at different points by roads cut 
through the coal, in some places quite down to the 
lowest level. The greatest ascertained thickness of 
the coal is fifty-four feet ; in one place, it is supposed 
to be one hundred ; but is commonly from twelve to 
thirty-five feet. Several banks of these dimensions 
are exposed, interrupted only by thin seams of slate, 
running parallel with the strata. The latter are in- 
clined generally at angles, from five to fifteen degrees, 
and follow with great regularity the external form of 
the mountain. In some places they are saddle 
shaped ; in some positions they and the attendant 
strata are wonderfully contorted and broken ; and in 
one place, both are vertical, yet at a short distance 
return to the general arrangement. It is impossible 
to avoid the impression that some great force has dis- 
turbed the original formation, by elevating or depres- 
sing the strata.*' 

" The entrances to the mine are numbered. At No. 
3, is a perpendicular section through all the strata, 
doAvn to the flooring of slate ; and the graywacke, the 
slate and the coal, are all raised on edge. The strata 
are in some places vertical, in others, curved or wav- 
ing, and they are broken in two at the upper part, 
and bent in opposite directions." 

" Professor Silliman asks, " Has subterranean fire 
produced these extraordinary locations? It would 
seem," he adds, " to favor this view, that the gray- 
wacke has, in some places, contiguous to the coal, the 
appearance of having been baked ; it appears indu- 
rated, is harsh and dry, and is inflated with vesicles, 
as if gas, produced and rarified by heat, was strug- 
gling to escape." This is a tempting opportunity to 



HISTORY OF CARBON COUNTY. 201 

indulge in speculation on the origin of coal measures 
generally. But the limits of our volume impel us to 
forbearance. Yet we will avail ourselves of the oc- 
casion to say, that we adopt the general opinion, that 
coal is a vegetable deposit, composed of masses of 
timber, collected by powerful currents of water ; and, 
that we now behold new coal-beds forming in many 
of the western waters, where miles of rafts are form- 
ed, sunken to unknown depths, and covered with 
strata of earth, variously composed. How far these 
immense aggregates of vegetation may, in the course 
of time, become causes of subterranean fires, we will 
not attempt to conjecture. But, that extraneous vol- 
canic force may give new forms to the regions in 
which they lie, we deem probable, and that at some 
future — perhaps very remote period, these beds of 
timber, converted into coal, and their intermediate 
and incumbent strata of earth turned into rock, may 
De upraised and broken into the various forms which 
distinguish the anthracite country of Pennsylvania. 
Such a process we conceive would be but a repetition 
of that, which contributed to the formation of the 
Mauch Chunk mountain. 

" There are railroads leading through the mine, for 
the purpose of conveying the coal to the main road; 
and others on which the refuse coal, rocks, and rub- 
bish, are made to descend in cars, by gravity, to dif- 
ferent points, at which such materials are discharged 
down the side of the mountain. These rail ways are 
continued over the valleys, and the rubbish thrown 
from them has already formed about a dozen artificial 
hills, shaped like a steep roof, and terminating almost 
abruptly in a descent of hundreds of feet. The cars 
are guided, each by one man, who at a proper place, 
knocks open one end, and discharges the load. In 
some instances cars have run off from the end of the 
rail way, and the guides have been thrown down the 
mountain ; but, falling among loose rubbish, such ac- 
cidents have not proved fatal, 

" Besides the incombustible refuse, there is small 



202 HISTORY OF CARBON COUNTY. 

and inferior coal enough here, to supply tlie fuel for 
a large city for years. It is not now sufficiently valu- 
able for transportation. Small coal is used sucessfully 
at Mauch Chunk and elsewhere, in burning lime, and 
at some future day may be advantageously employed 
in other manufactures. 

" Two mines have been recently opened within a 
mile of the large one; they are portions of the same 
great mass, and present an inexhaustible supply of 
fuel 

"Notwithstanding this great abundance of coal up- 
on the summit, hopes of procuring it from a part of 
the mountain nearer to navigation, have induced the 
"company" to excavate a tunnel two hundred feet 
below the precipitous ridge, and within two and a 
half miles of Mauch Chunk. This great enterprize 
was commenced on the 1st March, 1824, before the 
construction of the rail way to the " great mine," un- 
der the impression that the coal strata here dipped 
to the south. This supposition proved erroneous, and 
the company, for that and other reasons, suspended 
their labors. The tunnel is 16 feet wide, 8 feet high, 
and penetrates the mountain through hard pudding 
stone, 790 feet. Three thousand seven hundred and 
forty-five 5-27 cubic yards of stone have been remov- 
ed, at an expense of $26,812, or ^7 16 per cubic 
yard, or $33 94 the lineal foot. The following state- 
ment of the particulars of cost, may prove useful to 
persons disposed to a similar undertaking. The work 
was suspended on the 9th June, 1827. 
23,129 3-4 days labor, including two, and 
sometimes four smiths, making and 
dressing tools, . . . . $18,667 19 

Tools and materials for them, - - 3,785 86 
521 kegs of powder, - - - . i,S31 00 
Candles and oil for light, - - - 8127 1 

Lumber (for air-pipes and other fix- 
tures,) hauling tools and materials, 
and supplies for hands, . - - 508 54 



HISTORY OF CARBON COUNTT. 203 

268 days, one horse blowing wind, - 160 80 

Superintendance, . . . . 680 00 



^26,812 00 
" Shafts were sunk eighty feet in the table land, at 
the base of the narrow rocky ridge ; and good coal 
was found after penetrating seven feet of earth and 
slate. Coal has been struck in the horizontal tunnel, 
and though it is not deemed expedient to work it, the 
expenditure has not been in vain. The tunnel will 
serve to drain, and give access to the great coal bed 
above it. 

" When the company became satisfied of the pre- 
sent inexpediency of making further progress with 
the tunnel, they resolved to lay a rail way from 
Mauch Chunk to the great mine, which they com- 
menced under the direction of the indefatigable Mr. 
White, their manager, on the Sth of January, 1827, 
and finished, so as to pass the first load of coal down 
the whole line, in three months and twenty-six days. 
" The railroad commences at the Lehigh river, and 
ascends at the rate of 1 foot in 3 1-2 of the slant; the 
whole ascent to the top of the promontory is 215 feet, 
and the slant 700. The loaded wagons descend this 
inclined plane to the river. At the top of the hill is a 
building, containing the machinery, by which their 
descent is governed ; the most important part of 
which is a large cylinder, revolving horizontally, and 
serving to wind the rope attached to the cars. The 
latter are rolled by hand on a circular platform, which, 
revolving horizontally upon a perpendicular axis, 
brings the wagon upon a line with the inclined plane 
upon which they are launched. The rapidity of their 
progress is in a measure checked, by the weight of an 
ascending empty wagon, which being fastened at the 
other end of the rope, and moving on a parallel rail 
way on the same plane, necessarily mounts as rapidly 
as the empty one descends; and when it arrives at 
the top, it is transferred to the upper rail way by 
means of the circular platform. But this partial 



204 HISTORY OF CAR-30N COUNTY. 

coimterpoise is insufficient to moderate properly the 
spsed of the descending car. This object is efTectu- 
ally gained by an iron band which clasps the drum, 
and which, compressed by a lever, controls its motion. 
Accidents have been rare in this descent, but the cars 
have sometimes deviated, or broken loose, and one 
man has been killed. They are now guarded against 
by a very simple, yet ingenious contrivance. The rail 
way is double, i^ntil the most rapid part of the de- 
scent is passed; when both ways curve and unite in 
one. Should a v/agon break loose, its momentum 
will be so great as to prevent its following the curve, 
and as soon as it reaches this spot, it is thrown out, 
overturned and lodged on a clay bank, formed for this 
purpose below. Farther down, a bulwark is con- 
structed, overarching the rail way, to intercept the 
loose coal as it flies from the wagon. When the car 
arrives at the foot of the inclined plane, it pitches 
into a downward curve in the rail way, and a project- 
ing bar, which secures the lower end of the car, 
which, for this purpose, is hung on a horizontal axis, 
knocks it open, and the coal slides down a steep 
wooden funnel, into the boat or ark, which receding 
from the shore by the impulse thus given to it, occa- 
sions the coal to spread evenly over its bottom. 
The length of the main railroad, from 
Mauch Chunk to the west end of the 
coal mine, is nine miles, or - - 47,520 ft. 

Length of branch roads to the mine, - 8,069 
Roads, and their branches in the mine, - 11,437 



67,026 
Total length of single tracks, 12 •eoS-lOOO miles = 

The cost of the road was $38,726 = $3,050 per 
mile. 

Cost of the reservoir, brake, shute and fixtures, 
$9,500. 
Whole cost, $48,226 

The saving made by this mode of transportation, 
over that on a stone turnpike road, of the b€st con- 



HISTORY OF CARBON COUNTT. 205 

struction, on a portage of nine miles, is sixty-four cents 
and three quarters per ton, wliich, after deducting the 
interest on the cost of the improvement, produced a 
saving in the remainder of the season, after its com- 
pletion, of more than $15,000, and the road, in less 
than three years use, has- overpaid its cost. The ac- 
tual cost of transportation on this road, is thus stated 
by Mr. White, in his report of 1st January, 1829, ex- 
clusive of tolb or repairs : 



Mules and horses cost 


1 1-3 


cents 


per ton. 


per 


mile 


Hands, 


1 1-3 




do. 






Repairing wagons, 


2-3 




dOi. 






Oil, 


1-5 




do. 







3 53-100 cents per ton, per mile; 
full load one way, and the whole cost divided into 
the distance one way only. The wear and tear of 
the road is estimated, upon three years use, at 1 cent 
per ton, per mile, making the whole cost of transport 
tation, interest excluded, 4 53-100 per mile. He esti- 
mates the cost of transportation, by canal, in boats of 
forty tons burthen, at one cent per ton, per mile, full 
load one way, and returning empty. 

The rail way is of timber, about twenty feet long, 
four inches by five, and set in cross pieces, made of 
cloven trees, placed three and a-half feet distance 
from each other, and secured by wedges. The rail is 
shod on the upper and inner edge, with a flat bar of 
iron, two and a quarter inches wide, five-eighths of 
an inch thick. These being bedded on the turnpike 
road, for the greater part of the way, are very firm 
and durable. This excellent stone road gave the com- 
pany great facility in making the rail way, and en- 
abled them to> complete it in the very short time em- 
ployed about it. The hsight surmounted by the rail- 
road, above the inclined, plain, is 767 feet in eight and- 
a quarter miles, equal to about one degree of acclivity 
in the mile. There are two places for turning out;,, 
made as usual, by a curved railroad, lying against th& 
main one, and forming an irregular segment of a 
circle, resting upon its cord. If carriages meet on ths 



206 HISTORY OF CARBON COUNTT. 

road, the lighter must return to the place of turning 
out, or be removed from the railway track. This 
sometimes happens with the pleasure cars. 

Upon this road the coal is conveyed from the mine 
to Mauch Chunk village, in cars set on four cast iron 
wheels, about two and a-half feet in diameter, each 
containing one ton and a half of coal. Fourteen of 
these are connected together by iron bars, admitting 
a slight degree of motion between two contiguous 
cars, and are conducted by a single man on one of 
them, who regulates their movements by a very 
simple contrivance. A perpendicular lever causes a 
piece of wood to press against the circumference of 
each wheel on the same side of the car, acting both 
ways from the central point between them, so that by 
increasing the pressure, the friction retaixJs or stops 
the motion, and as all the levers are connected by a 
rope, they are made to act in concert. The observer 
is much interested in beholding the successive groups 
of wagons moving rapidly in procession, without ap- 
parent cause. They are heard at a considerable dis- 
tance as they come thundering along with their dark 
burdens, and give an impression of irresistable ener- 
gy. At a suitable distance follows another train, and 
thus from 300 to 340 tons a day are discharged into 
the boats. At first, the cars descended at the rate of 
fifteen or twenty miles an hour; but the speed v/as 
reduced, as it injured the machines, and by agitating 
and wearing the coal, involved the driver in a cloud 
of black dust. The empty cars are drawn back by 
mules, eight to a gang of fourteen wagons. Twenty- 
eight mules draw up forty-two coal, and seven mule 
wagons ; and the arrangement is so made, that the 
ascending parties shall arrive in due season, at the 
proper places for turning out. This is the case with 
the pleasure cars, and the line of stages which pass 
by this route through Tamaque, and by the Schuyl- 
kill valley railroad to Pottsville. 

"The mules ride down the railway. They are fur- 
aiished with provender, placed in proper mangers, 



HISTORY OP CARBON COUNTY. 207 

four of them being enclosed in one pen, mounted on 
wheels; and seven of these cars are connected into 
one group, so that twenty-eight mules constitute the 
party which, with their heads directed down the 
mountain, and apparently surveying its fine land- 
scapes, move rapidly along the inclined plane, with a 
ludicrous gravity, which when seen for the first time, 
proves too much for the severest muscles. 

"The mules readily perform their duty of drawing 
up the empty cars, but having experienced the com- 
fort of riding down, they seem to regard it as a right, 
and very reluctantly descend any other way. The 
speed first adopted in travelling the rail way, injured 
the health of the mules and horses employed on it, 
but the moderate rate of six or seven miles the hour, 
at present used, does not aff"ect them. 

"The pleasure of the traveller on returning in the 
pleasure car, is mingled with a sense of danger. The 
eight miles, from the summit, are frequently run in 
thirty minutes, and some parts of the road are passed 
over at a still greater speed, nor is the danger appa- 
rent only. The axles of the coal cars have been 
broken, and like accidents may occur to those of the 
pleasure carriages. In one instance, at least, a carri- 
age has been thrown from the road, and the passen- 
gers hurt, but fortunately, not very severely. Due 
«are, however, is taken by the proprietors to keep the 
pleasure cars in good repair, and to entrust them to 
careful guides, who cheerfully conform to the wishes 
of the passengers, relative to the rate of progress. 

"With the exhaustless mines of the Mauch Chunk, 
and the admirable means of transporting their pro- 
duct, the company might have reposed in full confi- 
dence of an ultimate and speedy and profitable return 
tor their great expenditure. But their vigilant pre- 
voyant and energetic acting manager, has found 
means to take a bond of fate, and to hasten this result 
by the discovery and * development of new mines 
upon the adjacent Nesquihoning mountain, four miles 
siearer to the landing of Mauch Chunk, and extremely 



208 HISTORY OF CARBON COUNTY. 

facile of operation. In a defile of the mountain, 
through which passes a sparkling and bounding rivu- 
let, called '-^Room run,^' a name soon to be as famous 
as " Maunch Chunk," some twenty veins of coal 
have been explored, varying in thickness from five t9 
fifty feet, making an aggregate of more than three 
hundred feet, nearly five times the thickness of the 
great mine. This coal field is supposed to be a con- 
tinuation of that of Mauch Chunk, from which it is 
distant between four and five miles. Some of these 
veins have been traced three and a half miles along 
the mountain. All of them are accessible above the 
water level ; some of them have great facilities for 
drainage, and are provided with most desirable roofs 
and floors of slate, which render them susceptible of 
cheap excavation. This is especially the case of a 
twenty-eight feet vein, into which three openings at 
different elevations have been made, whence coal of 
the first quality and highest lustre has been taken. 
Other veins approach so near the surface of the moun- 
tain, particularly the vein of fifty feet, that it may be 
best wrought by uncovering, after the manner of the 
great mine. And this labor has accordingly been 
commenced. It has been observed that the most 
solid, homogeneous and perfect masses of coal have 
been found under the thick strata of slate, with a 
sharp dip, and that soft and pliable coal is to be ex- 
pected beneath an earthly and porous covering. The 
cause of this difference would seem to be, that in the 
first case the atmospheric water is excluded from the 
coal, and is carried away by the upper surface of the 
slate strata, whilst in the second, it percolates, and 
softens the coal, dividing it into small particles, which 
adhere feebly to each other. 

Professor Silliman describes a peculiar formation of 
the great bed of fifty feet, and its contiguous strata. 
They rise in form of a half ellipse, placed on end 
with the curve uppermost ; the form of the mountain 
of which they are part. There is here, he observes, 
the most strildng apperance, that these strata have 



i 



HISTORY OF CARBON COUNIT. 209 

%een raised by force from beneath ; and it is difficult 
to avoid the conviction that they were also broken at 
the top ; for at the upper end of the stratum of coal, 
fhere is a huge rock, twenty feet in two of its dimen- 
sions, and five or six in the other, which has been 
broken off from the roof rock, a gray wacke of which 
it is part, and fallen in ; and the coal seems then to 
have closed all around and shEt it in on all sides, ex- 
cept, that in one place on the right hand a little below 
the top, the rupture is continis.ed to the surface, and 
that place was then fiRed and concealed by the loose 
rubbish and soil, as was also the rock above. These 
•circumstances, he conceives, confirm strongly the 
ti'uth of the supposition, that an upheaving force, ex- 
erted with great energy, has bent, dislocated and 
broken the strata. 

"This vein is broken by the ravine, and worn 
down by the stream which passes through it, but re- 
appears on the cpposite side, where it assumes a form 
more curious and extraordinary. The strata, as in 
the corresponding part, radiate from the surface, and 
the interior upper angle, so far as it has been un- 
covered, is filled with sand stone, arranged in reversed 
concentric arches, laid so regularly as to have the 
appearance of having been placed by art. The 
writer saw three of these arches, and the abutting 
parts of a fourth ; the remainder of the last was 
covered by earth. The stones of the respective 
arches increase their dimensions with the size of the 
arch. The form of these arches would seem to mili- 
tate against the hypothesis of an eccentric force, un- 
less we presume, what is probably true, that the 
gravitation of the strata in opposite angles of about 
forty-five degrees, produce this result. 

" To avail themselves in the best manner, of these 
new treasures, the company have made a railway of 
five miles. 

" This road follows the curve of the mountain along 
the Lehigh, for about two miles, and then still wind- 
ing with the mountain, turns easterly and rmis paral- 
N 



210 HISTORY. OF CARBON COUNTY. 

lei with the Nesqiiihonhig ereek, to the ravine of the 
mountain, made by Room run, which it ascends. It 
would be difFicult perhaps to conceive a method of 
making a road more SYjbstantially than has been 
adopted, on this. The rails are about twenty feel 
long, seven inches deep and five in width. They are 
supported on. massive bloeks of stone, placed in line 
four feet apart, and imbeded firmly in smaller stone, 
and are secared to these blocks by iron clamps on 
each side of the rail, about six inches wide, but at 
right angles, and nailed to the rail and to the block 
by means of four holes drilled in each stone, and 
plugged with wood. The iron bars are two inches 
and one-half wide, and five-eighths thick. The whole 
of the road from the coal mines to the landing is de- 
scending. On the self-acting plane, the descending 
wagon will bring up an empty one. The interme- 
diate road is graduated from ten to twelve inches de- 
scent, in one hundred feet ; this being considered the 
lowest grade on which a loaded wagon will descend 
by gravity, and therefore the most favorable one, 
that can be devised, when the freight, as in this ease, 
is all one way. 

" Doubts have been, exprsssed as to- tho continu- 
ance of the supply of coal from this region. On thia 
subject we will let. Mr. White speak, observing that 
the sceptical may at any timc^ by personal inspection, 
have a full confirmation of his statements. In his 
official report to the company of 1st Janu^^ary, 1830. 
he says : ' In. addition to the extensive examinations, 
which took place previous to my last report, explo- 
rations have been made which prove we can ujicover 
and quarry our coal in acontiniious opening, about, 
two miles in extent east and west, having our present- 
quarries about the centre. We have uncoversd coal 
at the summit of the mountain, three hundred and 
twenty, feet north and south, across the strata o( coal, 
which is of a quality similar to that in the great quar- 
ry ; so that we have, beyond all doubts, enough coaL 
t^9.t can be quarried without mining, to last mor&: 



HISTORY OP CARBON COUNTY. 211 

ihm\ one generdlion, even supposing that our ship- 
ments exceeded one million of tons a year, and that 
without extending our quarries more than one mile 
from the summit. And when our successors have 
done quarrying, they may follow the veins undeu 
ground eastward to the river, about seven miles more^, 
and five miles in a western direction.' 

"In his report of the 31st December, 1830, Mr. 
White adds : my conviction is, that our great coal 
mine, or quarry, will prove to be a vein of coal about 
sixty feet thick between the top and bottom slate, and 
that its extent will bear out my last annual report. 
Since that report, I have examined our coal field in, 
and about. Room run, where that stream breaks 
across the coal formation, and have had the good 
fortune to lay open a series of veins of unparalleled 
extent, of the following dimensions, viz : 28, 5, 5, 10, 
19, 39, 5, 12, 15, 15, 50, 20, 11 and 6 feet, making the 
whole number of veins opened 14, and the whole 
thickness, measured at right angles v/ith the veins, 
240 feet. Other veins have since been explored. The 
width of the coal basin at this place, north and south, 
exceeds half a mile ; and the bearing of the strata 
lengthwise, is south eighty-eight degrees west. If we 
allow sixty cubic feet of these veins to make a ton 
of coal in the market, after leaving enough for piers, 
waste, &c., they will give foiu" tons of coal to each su- 
perficial square foot, (counting the whole as one vein,) 
or 10,560 tons for each foot lengthwise of the coal 
basin, and consequently 55,756,800 tons for each 
mile ; and allowing our demand to be one million of 
tons each year from these mines, one mile would last 
more than fifty-five years. Tlie part of the coal basin 
belonging to the company, extends ten or twelve 
miles. 

" We must not omit to notice here a very important 
and ingenious invention of Mr. White, for the purpose 
of raising burdens, in which, more than one of our 
©perative classes will take a deep interest. We- 



212 HISTORY OF CARBON COUNTT. 

allude to the propellers, for which he has taken a 
patent. 

" That this machine is very effective, is made ap- 
parent by the following minute of one day's work, 
done by it at the Maiich Chunk mines. In ten hours 
and three quarters, three horses drove the machinery, 
and raised two hundred and four wagons, loaded one 
ton and a half each, up a plane of thirty-five feet rise, 
and two hundred and ten feet iu length. As the pro- 
pellers require no more attention in passing a wagon, 
than a piece of conmion railroad, and there being no 
gudgeons or machinery to grease, except the driving 
part, the expense of going up hills is reduced to a 
mere trifle ; being confined pretty much to that of 
the driving power. 

" As farther exemplifying the facility of labor pos- 
sessed by the company, we incorporate the following 
note of one day's work at Mauch Chunk : ' Three 
hundred and forty tons of coal quarried at the mines, 
loaded and brought on the raih-oad nine miles, un- 
loaded from the wagons, down the schute, and loaded 
into boats. The boats for this coal all built the same 
day. Forty hundred feet of lumber sawed in one 
day and night.' " 

Since the above was written, great changes have 
taken place, several new mines have been opened. 
There is now, (1S44,) a "back track," constructed, 
by which the empty cars at Mauch Chunk, are sent 
back to the smmit mines. [See the article ^eo/0^3/ oj 
Schuylkill, Carbon, S^-c, counties.'] 

Since the foregoing has been written, the mines iu 
this region have been much enlarged, and great addi- 
tions and improvements made. 

Lausanne, a post village on the right bank of the 
Lehigh river, two miles above Mauch Chunk, at the 
mouth of the Nesquihoning creek, consisting of eight 
or ten houses, a store and a tavern. 

Nesquihoning, at the mines of that name, four 
miles above Lausanne, situated at the foot of the 



HISTORY OF CARBON COUNTY. 213 

Xesquihoning mountain, upon the Nesquihoning 
creek. This village was laid out in 1831, by the Le- 
hj^h Navigation Company ; it contains between twen- 
ty-five and thirty houses, a store and tavern. 

Lausanne township is bounded on the north by 
Luzerne county ; on the east by Penn Forest ; on the 
south by Mauch Chunk ; on the west by Banks. The 
surface of this township is very mountairious, and the 
soil gravelly and sterile. A great proportion of this 
township is claimed among unseated lands ; rising 
seven thousand acres, were offered at public sale by 
the county treasurer, to pay the arrears of taxes due 
thereon, in 1844. The population of this township 
in 1830, was 508; in 1840, 1,590. The county tax 
for 1844, $276 03; for state purposes, ^165 82. 

Laivrytown is an ancient looking lumbering vil- 
lage, consisting of some thirty cabins, above the 
mouth of Laurel run, planted in the forest years ago 
by the Lehigh Coal Company. 

Rockport, near the mouth of Laurel run, was 
laid out a few years ago, and bids to be quite a brisk 
and thriving village, and may soon vie with its neigh- 
boring villages. 

Clifton is a small village of recent origin, three 
miles north-west of Rockport. 

Penn Haven, on the mouth of Quakake, at the 
foot of the Broad mountain, upon the Avest side, is 
a village of moderate growth. 

Beaver Meadow is a post village on the Mauch 
Chunk and Berwick turnpike, twelve miles from 
Mauch Chunk, consisting of some twenty-five or 
more framed white houses, several stores, and taverns, 
two churches. Where the village stands, some 
years ago, it was a vast mountain morass, however 
partly reelaimed to agriculture, which doubtless re- 
ceives its name from the inhabitants who once occu- 
pied it. It has risen into distinction by the quantity 
and quality of anthracite coal in this place. 



214 HISTORY OF CARBON COUNTT. 

In the immediate vicinity of Beaver Meadow, ore 
several hamlets occupied by miners, and others labor- 
ing at the mines, or coal quarries. The miners he^e 
are principally Welsh. 

The Beaver Meadow coal mines, which were 
opened in 1813, by Mr. Beach, of Salem, are about a 
mile and a half west of the village. The Stafibrct 
Coal Company have a mine nearer the village. 

" This mine, says Professor Silliman, was opened in 
1813. The coal is miiversally regarded as being ol 
the best quality. All persons whom we heard speak 
of it agreed in that opinion. The appearance of the 
coal corresponds with that impression, and its burn- 
ing too, as far as we could judge by limited opportu- 
nities of observation. The mine is in the side of 
liill ; there is no roof, or only a very thin one. It is 
worked open to the day, like a quarry It is already 
fairly disclosed, and there is no apparent impediment 
to obtaining any quantity of coal that may be desired. 
The situation of the mine is not, however, much ele- 
vated above the general surface of the country in its 
vicinity ; but there is descent enough, to carry off the 
water. '^ 

Hazelton is a thrifty hamlet, or village, four miles^ 
north-west of Beaver Meadow, " which has grown 
up in connection with Hazelton Co's mine, about 
half a mile west of the village. A railroad takes the 
produce of these mines, and that of Suger Loaf Hill 
mines, also near the village, to the lieaver Meadow 
railroad." 

Baiiks township, organized since the erection of the 
county, is the north-western township in the county, 
is bounded on the north by Luzerne county ; east by 
Lausanne township : south by Mauch Chunk; on the 
west by Schuylkill county. The surface of this town- 
ship is mountainous and hilly; the soil gravelly ; much 
of it not arable ^ a considerable proportion is classed 
among unseated lands. Its population does not ex- 
ceed 500. The taxes assessed for county purposes in 



HISTORY OF CARBON COUNTY. 215 

1844, amounted to ^376 91 ; for state purposes, 
^217 06. 

Penn Forest township is bounded north-west by 
Luzerne county ; north-east by Monroe county ; east 
by Upper Towamensing township ; west by Lau- 
sanne. It is a mass of mountains. The Great Sioamp, 
or Shades of Death commences here. Tiie soil of 
the township, especially the mountainous parts, is 
gravel, and in many places very well timbered. The 
greater proportion ef the township is classed among 
unseated lands ; folly thousand acres of which was 
oflered by the county treasurer, at public sale, to pay 
the arrears of taxes due thereon. There are several 
saw mills in this township. 

The township is thinly inhabited ; its population 
does not exceed 800. The taxes assessed for county 
purposes, in 1S44, amounted to ^316 30; for state 
purposes, $187 6Q. 

Upper Towamenshig township is bounded on the 
north by Penn Forest township ; north-east by Chest- 
nuthill township, in Monroe county ; on the south by 
Lower Towamensing ; on the west by Lehigh river, 
which separates it from Mahoning township. Much 
of this township is mountainous and hilly ; the soil is 
gravelly, though arable, and when cultivated tolera- 
bly productive. A small proportion of it is still class- 
ed among unseated lands. 

This township is watered by Hoeth's, or Head's 
creek, and the Pohopoko creek, and the Big creek, 
which is formed by the junction of Pohopoko and 
and Head's creeks, at the foot of the Pohopoko 
mountain, from which rafts descend to its mouth. It 
flows south-westerly through a cultivated valley, to 
which it gives name, and fails into the Lehigh river, 
about four miles above the Water Gap. It is navi- 
gat)le for ten miles. There 'me several mills, a fiur- 
fiace and a forge on this stream. 

This township was settled at an early date, during 



216 HISTORY OF CARBON COUNTY. 

the Indian and French war ; and also during the Re- 
vohition of '76, the Indians committed depredations 
and murders in Pohopoko valley. In the month of 
December, 1755, "a company of Indians, about five 
in number, attacked the house of Frederick Hoeth^ 
about twelve miles eastward from Guaden Huetten 
(Weissport,) or Pocho Pochto creek. The family 
was at supper— the Inians shot into the liouse, wound- 
ed a woman, shot at and killed Hoeth himself, and 
then shot sevei'al times more, whereupon all ran out 
of the house that could. The Indians, immediately 
set fire to the house, mill and stables. Hoeth's wife 
ran into the bake house, whieh was also set on fire. 
The poor woman ran out through the flames, and be- 
ing very much burned, she ran into the v/ater, and 
there died ! The Indians cut the belly open, and 
otherwise inhumanly used her. They killed and 
scalped a daughter^ — three of the children were burnt ; 
these children belonged to the family. Several of 
Hoeth's daughters were carried O'ff. In the action 
one Indian was killed, and another wounded."* 

In the spring of 1780, during the Revolutionary 
war, the Indians were marauding through here, and, 
on the west side of the Lehigh river, took several of 
the inhabitants prisoners at the house of Benjamin 
Gilbert, not far from Fort Allen, (Weigsport,) and 
abducted them.t 

Parry sville, two miles below Weissport, six below 
Mauch Chunk, on the left bank of the Lehigh river, at 
the junction of the Big creek with the Lehigh, is a 
small village, consisting of tea dwellings, one taverUj. 
two stores, a school house, a grist mill, two saw mills 
and a lath mill. Opposite this village, on the west 
side of the Lehigh, was a basin and the intended 
depot of the Beaver Meadow railroad, which was. 
swept away by the great fneshet in January, 184L 

Weissport, situated on the left bank, of the Lphigli; 

•Prov.Rec. Vol. N..p. 332. 
fSee Mahoning township.. 



HISTORY OP CARBON COUNTY. 217 

river, above Tar run, (which now empties in the 
lower basin of the canal,) occupies a broad flat ; once 
tlie site of New Guaden Huetten and Fort Allen,, 
was laid out by Colonel Jacob Weiss, in 1828. Col. 
Weiss purchased this tract from the Moravians^ 
shortly after the Revolutionary war. 

The village is laid out regularly, and is a place of 
considerable business. It contains a storing house, a 
tavern, two stores, some ten or fifteen dwellings ; two 
churches, the one belongs to the German Reformed 
and Lutheran, the other to the Evangelical Associa- 
tion. The building of the former is quite an ornament 
to the village, and occupies the spot, once the site of 
an Indian village, destroyed in 175$. 

The proprietor. Colonel Jacob Weiss, was a native 
of Philadelphia, and during the whole of the Revolur- 
tion, in the service of his country. Sometime in 
1784, he purchased seven hundred acres of land from 
the Moraviaiis ; in 1785, he removed his family to this- 
place. Col. Weiss was an active and enterprising 
citizen. His name is intimately associated with all 
the early eftbrts to improve this region of country. 

Mr. Weiss died in 1839, and his remains rest in the 
grave yard contiguous to the village on the east side 
of the canal, where a stone marks the spot, with the 
following inscription : 

" Sacred to the memory of Jacob Weiss, Sen., who- 
was born in Philadelphia, September 1st, 1750, and 
departed this life, January 9th, 1833, aged 88 years, 
4 months and 8 days." 

His consort, Elizabeth Weiss, a daughter of Mr . 
Robinson, is still (September 1844) living, aged ninety 
years — nevertheless, of remarkable memory, especi- 
ally when it is considered that she has been confined 
to her room, through infirmity, caused by palsy, for 
the last eight years. 

Weissport, or Fort Allen, the early history of 
which is given belo.w, has been several times inun- 
dated.. 



218 HISTORY OF CARBON COUNTY. 

Trppey's Flood ox Flood of '86."* On the night of 
the Cth October, 1786, Mr. Weiss' family was roused 
from sleep, between ten and twelve of the clock, by 
the cry of some one, " we are all surrounded!'' At 
this cry, the first thought that struck them, was, the 
Indians had surprised them ; but soon found they 
were surrounded by water, for the Lehigh had swol- 
len so suddenly, and so high, that the whole flat of 
Fort Allen was inundated. To save themselves, they 
had to leave the house. They drove the sheep into 
the kitchen, and pent them up in the loft; the cattle 
were on the hills. Old Mrs. Robinson, the mother of 
Mrs. Weiss, and the children, were carried in a wa- 
gon to the higher ground ; and Mrs. Weiss, hetween 
two and three in the morning, mounted behind her 
husband to go on horseback, but was obliged to dis- 
mount, for the horse could not possibly carry both, 
on account of the ground being so completely soaked 
that he sunk to the flanks ; Mrs. Weiss, however, 
was carried in an axm chair, by some men, to the hill 
east of the canal. 

At the same time, a house near the river, M'-here 
the Lehigh bridge is, was swept away, with its in- 
mates, Tippey, his wife, and two children. As the 
house was floating, each of the parents had a child 
by the hand — the house struck a tree, the parents 
caught by the limbs, were saved, but both children 
perished. In this predicament, Mr. Mullen, a sailor, 
at the instance of Mr. Weiss, took a canoe, and res- 
cued Tippey and his wife, from the angry waves 
which had borne oft" their tender children. 

In January, 1841, there was another flood, by 
which Weissport was inundated, and the bridge, over 
the Lehigh, was partly swept away. The flood of 
1841, was two feet higher than Tippey's flood. 

fVeissport. The locality of this place is well known in 
the early history of this country as Neiv Guadeii Huet- 

• In a conversation with Mrs. Weiss, and her son Francis, 
-Sqot. 18, 1844, this was communicated to the writer. 



i 



HISTORY OF CARBON COUNTY. 219 

ten, and Fort Mien. It was once a flourishing Mo- 
ravian missionary station. Tlie Moravians had com- 
menced a settlement and missionary station, in 1746, 
west of the Lehigh river, in Mahoning valley, (of 

which an account is given when speaking of 

township) but subsequently, left that place and located 
east of the Lehigh river, in 1754. Loskiel, in speak- 
ing of that removal, says, "in the removal of the 
buildings, the chapel only excepted, the Indians were 
kindly assisted by the congregations at Bethlehem, 
Nazareth, Christianbrunn, and Guadenthal, who fur- 
nished not only workmen and materials, but even 
contributions in money. Unanimity and diligence 
contributed so much, towards the progress of this 
work, that the first twenty houses were inhabited by 
the 4th, and the foundation stone of the new chapel 
laid on the 11th of June, Bishop Spangenberg offered 
up a most fervent prayer, and delivered a powerful 
discourse on this solemn occasion. The houses wer« 
soon after completed, and a regulation made in all the 
families, for the children, of each sex, to be properly 
taken care of. The dwellings were placed in such 
order, that the Makikans lived on one and the Dela- 
wares on the other side. The brethren at Bethlehem 
took the culture of the old land on the Mahony, upon 
themselves, made a plantation of it for the use of the 
Indian congregation, and converted the old chapel 
into a dwelling, both for the use of those brethren and 
sisters who had the care of the plantations, and for 
missionaries, passing, on their visits to the heathen. 
A synod was held in New Guaden Huetten, from the 
6th to the 11th August, (1754,) and the chapel con- 
secrated. Many Indian assistants were invited to this 
synod, the chief intention being maturely to consider 
the situation of the Indian mission."* 

Military forces had been stationed here during 
1756, and afterwards. "And," says Loskiel, "as 
iboth the Indian missionaries had left their eflects and 

* Loskeil, ii, 152, '3. 



220 HISTORY OF CARBON COUNTY. 

harvest at Giiaden Auetten, the Governor of the pro- 
vince kindly ordered a party of soldiers to march into> 
those parts, to defend the property of the christian 
Indians, and the country in general. But on New 
Year's day, 1756, the savages attacked these troops,, 
set fire to Guaden Huetten and the mill, and destroyed 
the plantations, by wiiich the Indian congregation and 
its missionaries were reduced to the greatest pover- 
ty." 

In 175&, Dr. Benjamin Franklin erected a fort here, 
called Fort Allen. While here, he addressed the fol- 
lowing to Governor Morris: 

Fort Mlen^at Guaden Hy^etteny 
January 25, 1756. 

To the Hon. B. H. Morris : 

Dear Sir^^Ye got to Hay's the same evening we 
left you, and reviewed Craig's company by the way. 
Much of the next day was spent in exchanging the 
bad arms for the good, Wayne's company having 
joined us. We reached, however, that night to Up- 
linger's, where we got into good quarters. Saturday 
morning we began to march towards Guaden Huet- 
ten, and proceeded near two miles; but it seeming to 
set in for a rainy day, the men, unprovided with great 
coats, and many unable to secure, effectually, their 
arms from the wet, we thought it advisable to face 
about and return to our former quarters, where the 
inen might dry themselves and lie warm — whereas, 
Iiad they proceeded, they would have come in wet to. 
Guaden Huetten, where shelter, and opportunity of 
drying themselves, that night, was uncertain. In fact, 
it rained all day, and we were all pleased that we. 
!iad not proceeded. 

The next day being Sunday, we marched hither,^ 
where we arrived about two in the afternoon, and 
before fi.ve had inclosed our camp with a strong 
breast work, musket proof, and with the boards 
brought here before by my order, from Dunker's mill^ 



HISTORY OP CARBON COUNTT. 221 

got ourselves under shelter from the weather. Mon- 
day was so dark, with a thick fog all day, that we 
could neither look out for a place to build, nor see 
where materials were to be had. Tuesday morninsf 
we looked round us, pitched on a place, marked out 
our fort on the ground, and by ten o'clock began to 
cut timber for stockades, and to dig the ground ; by 
three in the afternoon the logs were all cut, and many 
of them hauled to the spot, the ditch dug to set them 
in, three feet deep, and many were pointed and set 
up. The next day we were hindered by rain most 
of the day. Thursday we resumed our work, and 
before night were perfectly well enclosed ; and on 
Friday morning the stockade was finished, and part 
of the platform, within, erected, which was completed 
next morning, when we dismissed Foulk's and Wel- 
ierholt's companies, and sent Hay's down for a con- 
voy of provisions. This day we hoisted the flag- 
made a general discharge of our pieces, which had 
been long loaded, and of our two swivels, and named 
the place Fort Allen, in honor of our old friend. It 
is one hundred and twenty-five feet long, and fifty 
wide; the stockades, most of them a foot thick; they are 
lliree feet in the ground, and twelve feet out, pointed 
at the top. 

This is an account of our week's work, which I 
thought might give you some satisfaction. Foulk is 
gone to build another fort, between this and Schuyl- 
kill fort, which I hope will be finished (as Trexler is 
to join him) in a week or ten days. 

As soon as Hays returns, I shall detach another 
party to erect another at Surfas's, which I hope may 
be finished in the same time, and then, I purpose to 
end my campaign, God willing, and do myself the 
pleasure of seeing you on my return. I can now add 
no more than that I am, with great esteem and aifec- 
lion, 

Dear friend, yours, affectionately, 

B. FRANKLIN. 



222 HISTORY OP CARBON COUNTY. 

Fort %tllhn, at Guaden Huetten, 
January 26, 17,56. 

To the Hon. Robert H. Morris : 

Sir— We left Bethlehem 16th mst. with Foiilk's 
company, forty-six men; the detachment of Mr.. 
Laughlin's twenty, and seven wagons laden with 
stores and provisions. We got that night to Hay's 
quarters, where Wayne's company joined us from 
Nazareth. 

The next day we marched cautiously through the 
gap of the mountain, a very dangerous pass, and got 
to Uplinger's, but twenty-one miles from Bethlehem, 
the roads being bad, a,nd the wagons moving slowly. 
At present, we are erecting a third house in the Fort 
(Allen) to accommodate the garrison. 

As soon as Mr. Hays returns with the convoys of 
stores and provisions, which I hope may be to-mor- 
row, I purpose to send Orndt and Hays to Hoeds, to 
join Captain Trump in erecting the middle fort there, 
purposing to remain here between them and Foulk, 
ready to assist and supply both, as occasion may re- 
quire, and hope, in a week or ten days, Aveather fa- 
voring, those two forts may be finished, and the line 
of forts completed and garrisoned, the rangers in mo- 
tion, and the internal guards and watches disbanded, 
as well as some other companies, unless they are per- 
mitted and encouraged to go after the enemy to Sus- 
quehanna. 

At present, the expense in tliis eovmtry is prodi- 
gious. We have on foot, and in pay, the following 
companies : 

Trump, 50 men ; Aston, 50 ; Wayne, 55. 

Foulk, 46; Trexler, 48; Wettherhold, A^— without 
the Forks. 

Orndt, 50. 

Craig, 30; Martin, 30 — in the Irish settlements. 

Van Etten, 30 — at Minnisinks ; Hays, 4-5. 

Detachment of M'Laughlin, 20 ; Parson, 24 — in all^ 
522.. Yours, 

BENJ. FRANKLIN.. 



HISTORY OF CARBON COUNTY. 223 

James Young, Commissary General, visited Fort 
Allen in 1756. In his journal of June 21st, 175<6, he 
says, "at 8, A. M. we set out (from the fort above 
AUemenengel) for fort Allen, at Guaden Huetteu;. it is 
about fifteen miles from Allemengel. The first seven 
miles of this road is very hilly, barren and swampy — 
no plantations. The other part of the road, is, for the 
most part, through a rich valley, chiefly meadow 
ground — several settlements; but all the houses burnt 
and deserted. At noon, we came to the foot. For 
the last half hour before we came there, we had a 
very severe gust of thunder, lightning, and a prodi- 
gious heavy rain. 

" This fort stands on the river Leah, (Lehigh) in 
the pass, through very high hills, is, in my opinion, a 
very important place, and may be of great service, if 
the oflicer does his duty. It was very well stoccaded, 
with four good bastions. On one of them is a swivel 
gun. The woods are clear all around it for a con- 
siderable way, and is very defensible. Within, are 
three good barracks and a guard-room. I found here 
fifteen men without any officer, or commander. They 
told me that lieutenant J'acob Miles, and two men 
from the fort, were gone this morning with two. gen- 
tlemen from Bethleliem, and four Indians, fifteen .miles 
up the country, to bring down some friendly Indians-; 
and that the sergeant, with three men, were gone to 
Captain Foulk's, late commander here, to receive the 
pay that was due them ; and one was gone to Beth- 
lehem, with the sergeant's watch to mend, which was 
the reason I could not muster those present, nor have 
any account of the provisions, but saw a large quan- 
tity of beef very badly cured. 

I was informed that a captain, with a new compa- 
ny, was expected there in a day or two, to take post 
at this fort. Being very uncertain when the lieu- 
tenant would return, or the new company come, I re- 
solved to proceed to Lehigh Gap^ where a detachment 
of a company is posted. 



224 HISTORY OF CARBON COUNTY. 

" Provincial stores.— 21 muskets, 50 cartouch boX' 
es, 10 pounds of powder, 60 pounds of lead, 20 rounds 
filled for 25 men, 19 axes, 4 broad-axes, 2Q hatchets, 
43 tomahawks, 3 iron wedges, and one swivel. 

The following letters are from the commanding 
officer at Fort Allen, to Major Parsons, at Easton : 



Fort Allen, Feb. 18, 1757. 

Honored Sir: — This morning arrived an Indian 
here from Diahoga, and seven women and three chil- 
dren are to come in to-morrow or next day. His name 
is Zacharias. He informs me that king Teedyuscung 
has sent him with the following orders, that the same 
might be shown to his honor the Governor. King 
Teedyuscung intended to come in with a great num- 
ber of Indians, the next month, to Ectston, to hold 
a treaty there, and desires that the Governor may be 
ready, at that time, to meet him at Easton, The In- 
xiian informs me, that the three messengers, Joseph 
Poppy, Lewis Montour, and Nathaniel, arrived well 
at Diahoga, and went from thence to the IMohawk 
country, with several others ; and as soon as they shall 
come back to Diahoga, king Teedyuscung will be 
ready to march from thence to come down. 
Honored Sir, 

I am your very humble servant, 

JACOB ORNDT. 



Fort Allen, March 31, 1757. 

Honored Sir-: — The bearer hereof, an Indian, 
named Samuel Evans, desires to have an order from 
your worship, to get a new stock made for his gun, in 
Bethlehem, and that the same might be charged to 
the province. 

Since my last letter, which I have written to you, 
arrived here, king Teedyuscung's two sons. Captain 
Harrison, and several other Indians, in number fifty 



HISTORY OF CARBON COUNTY. 225 

men, squaws and children. They behave very civil 
here — tliey have made cabins about sixty perches 
from the fort, where they live, and intend to tarry 
here till the king comes. 
I am, 

Your very humble servant, 
JACOB ORNDT. 
[Prov. Bee. p. 203-4.] 



Fort JlUen, Jijiril 5, 1757. 
Honored Sir : 

This is to acquaint your worship, that the day before 
yesterday, arrived here, four Indians from Susque- 
hanna, above Diahoga, and have brought one white 
prisoner, whose name is Nicholas Ramston. He was 
taken at the same time that Christian Pember was 
killed. The same Indians inform me, that king Tee- 
dyuscung can hardly come down here till the latter 
end of this month, for the Mohawk Indians were not 
quite ready to march. 

Those four Indians will come with the bearer here- 
of, one of my soldiers, whom I have sent to escort 
them to Easton, and I have also ordered the white 
prisoner with them. I desire your worship would be 
pleased to send an order to Mr. Warner, who is or- 
dered to entertain the Indians, that he shall not give 
them too much rum, as he has done to those who 
were at Easton last week ; for some of them were so 
drunk that they staid all night in the woods, and the 
remainder went to Bethlehem, and by so doing there 

might easily happen any misbehavior. 

* * * ****** 

I am. Sir, 

Your very humble servant, 

JACOB ORNDT. 
[Prov. Pec. p. 204.] 

Colonel James Burd visited this place in 1758. In 
his journal of February 27, 1758, he says, " I march- 




226 HISTORY OP CARBON COUNTY. 

ed from thence (Mr. Everitt's) to Fort Allen, at 11 
o'clock P. M.; got at the top of the Blue mountain, 
at 2 P. M. ; from hence saw Allemengel ; it is a fine 
country; but the country on the north side of the 
mountain is an entire barren wilderness, not capable 
of improvement. I arrived at Fort Allen at half after 
two P. M., a prodigious hilly place, and poor land, 
fifteen miles from Mr. Everitt's. I ordered a review 
of this garrison tormorrow, at A. M. 

Tuesday, 2Sth.— At A. M. I reviewed this garri-- 
son. Doing duty, Captain Orndt, lieutenant Hays and 
Laugherry, and ensign Meixill and seventy-five men. 
This is a very good garrison. In the stores, two 
months provisions, two hundred and five pounds of 
powder, three hundred pomids of lead, five hundred 
flints, two swivels, twenty-sis provincial arms, (bad 
ones) no drum, no-kettle, no blankets, one spade, one 
shovel, one grubbing hoe, and fourteen bad axes. 

This is a very poor stoccads, surrounded with hills, 
situated on a barren plain, through which the river 
Lechy, (Lehigh) runs, at a distance of seventy yards 
from the fort. There is scarce room here for forty 
men. I ordered Captain Orndt to regulate his rang- 
ing by his intelligence, from time to time, as he in- 
formed me that five Indians, from Bethlehem, have 
promised faithfully to Captain Orndt, to oome here 
and reconnoitre the woods constantly around, and ta 
furnish him with intelligence. I also directed that a 
target, six inches thick, should be put up, to teach the 
soldiers to shoot. 

Lower Tow amensing: township is bounded on the 
north by Upper Towamensing ; on the east by Mon- 
roe county; on the south by Northampton county, 
and the west by the Lehigh river, which separates it: 
from Penn township. The surface of this township 
is diversified, mountainous, hilly, and partly level, 
containing a considerable portion of arable land, and, 
well improved.. Its principal stream, besides the Le=- 



HISTORY OP CARBON COUNTY. 227 

high river, is the Aquanshicola * creek, which rises 
in Ross township, Monroe county, about a mile east 
of the Wind Gap; running along the base of the Blue 
mountain, it falls into the Lehigh river, at its entrance 
into the Water Gap, It is a very rapid stream, and 
drives several mills. The Clarissa iron works, consist- 
ing of a forge, furnace, and several dwellings, are on 
this stream. 

" The Gap'^ at the Lehigh Water Gap § is a small 
village, on the left bank of the Lehigh, and at the 
mouth of the Aquanchicola creek, which is crossed 
by a substantial and neatly built bridge. The village 
consists of some six or eight houses, a store and a ta- 
vern. A hundred and fifty yards below the bridge 
the Aquanchicola is crossed by the canal in an aque- 
duct. This place sustained considerable injury from 
the flood in 1841. 

At an early date, a Mr. Uplinger, or Oplinger, lived 
near, or at the Gap. In a letter from Benj. Franklin 
to Governor Morris, dated Fort Allen, January 26, 
1756, he says, "We marched cautiously through the 
Gap of the mountain, a very dangerous pass, and got 
to Uplinger's, but twenty miles from Bethlehem. t 
Alluding to their march on that day, Franklin says, 
"that on leaving Bethlehem, we had not marched 
many miles, before it began to rain, and it continued 
raining all day. There were no habitations on the 
road to shelter us, until we arrived near at the house 
of a German, where, and in his barn, we were all 
huddled together as well as water could make us. It 
was well we were not attacked in om* march, for our 
arms were of the most ordinary sort, and our men 
Gould not keep the locks of their guns dry. The next 
day being fair, we continued our march,, and arrived 
at the desolate Gnaden Huetten (Weisspoiit).^' 

• Aquanshicola — various are the orthographiesof this stream.. 
Aquanschicola, Aquanchicola. In the record of Indian deeds it. 
is written Aquanshehals. — Records, &c. p. 128. 

§ For a description of the Water Gap, see. Lehigh county. 

t Provincial Records, vol. 0. p. 77. 



228 HISTORY OF CARBON COUNTY. 

East Penn township is bounded on the north hj 
Mahoning township; east by Lower Towamensing; 
south by Lehigh county ; and south-west by Schuyl- 
kill county. This township has the Blue mountain 
on the south, and the Mahoning mountain on the 
north of it. The surface is diversified, mountainous, 
hilly, and level ; the soil, shale, or variegated red 
shale, gravel and limestone. It is watered by Lizard 
creek, which rises at the foot of the Blue mountain, 
and following along its base, easterly, falls into the 
Lehigh, about a mile above the Water Gap. It is a 
very rapid creek, and has several mills on it. The 
creek gives name to a cultivated valley, through 
which it flows. Stephen Balliet's furnace and forge 
are in this township. 

An excellent road passes through this valley, from 
the Lehigh to M'Keansburg and Orwigsburg, in 
Schuylkill county. 

One of the forts, in the chain of forts between the 
Delaware and Potoraack rivers, was located in this 
township. See Appendix, Young's, Van Etten's, and 
Burd's Journal. 

Mahoning township is bounded on the north by 
Mauch Chunk ; east by the Lehigh river, which sepa- 
rates it from Upper and lower Towamensing ; on the 
south by East Penn; and on the south-west by Schuyl- 
kill CO. A considerable portion of land is very good, 
and remarkable for abundant crops of rye and corn ; 
wheat does very well, too. It is watered principally 
by Mahoning creek, which rises at the foot of Maho- 
ning mountain, and running eastwardly through a 
cultivated and beautiful valley, to which it gives 
name, falls into the Lehigh river, a short distance be- 
low Lehighton, and nearly opposite old Fort Allen, 
or Weissport. Rafts descend this creek about fom' 
miles, above which distance are several mills. 

Owl creek is in the western part of the township, 
flows between the Mahoning and Mauch Chunk 
mountains, into the Tamaqua, or Little Schuylkill 



HISTORY OP CARBON COUNTY. 229 

river. There are several small villages in this town- 
ship. Taxables in 1844, 253 ; state tax, $403 93 ; 
county tax, $657 03. 

BiirUn,^ton, two miles north of Lehighton, on the 
road to Mauch Chunk, contains five dwellings and a 
store. This place suffered some by the freshet of 
1S41. 

Lehighton, a post village, laid out some forty years 
ago, by Colonel Jacob Weiss and William Henry. 
The ground plot of the town is laid out upon an ele- 
vated piece of table laud ; the lots are large, aftbrd- 
ing an extensive garden and yard to each dwelling. 
The view from the town, though not extensive, is 
beautiful. It commands a prospect of tlie river and 
canal, the valley in which Weissport is located, the 
Blue mountain in the distance, and a nearer view of 
the iNIahoning mountain and Lehigh hills. Within 
half a mile of the village, there has been discovered a 
mineral spring, the waters of which have proved 
beneficial in many cases of disease and debility. The 
town contains thirty dv/ellings, three taverns and two 
stores. This village would prove an eligible situa- 
tion for the Shiretown of Carbon county. May it not 
yet become the seat of justice ? 

South Lehighton, contiguous to Lehighton and the 
old Mahoning church, consists of seven or eight 
ancient looking buildings. A place that has attained 
its zenith. Near this is the Moravian grave yard of 
old. 

In INIahoning township the Moravians had a mis- 
sionary establishment, or station, nearly one hundred 
years ago. They commenced settlements here in 
174G. The station is thus described by Loskiel : 
" Gnaden Huetten now (1746) became a very regular 
and pleasant town. The church stood in the valley, 
on one side the Indian houses forming a crescent, upon 
a rising ground ; and on the other, stood the house of 
the missionary and the burying ground. The mis- 
sionaries tilled their own grounds, and every Indian 



230 HISTORY OF CARBON COUNTY. 

family their plantation, and on the 1 8th of August, 
they had the satisfaction to partake of the first fruits 
of the land, at a love feast." 

" The land on the Mahoning being impoverished, 
and other circumstances requiring a change, the in- 
habitants of Gnaden Huetten removed to the north 
side of the Lehigh. The dwellings were removed., 
and a new chapel was built, in June, 1754. The 
place was called New Gnaden Huetten. [It stood 
where Weissport now is.] The dwellings were so 
placed that the Mohicans lived on one, and the Dela- 
wares on the other side [of the street.] The brethren 
at Bethlehem took the culture of the old land on the 
Mahoning upon themselves, made a plantation of it 
for the use of the Indian congregation, and converted 
the old chajjel into a dweUing, both for the use of 
those brethren and sisters who had the care of the 
plantations, and for missionaries passing on their 
visits to the heathen. 

" The Indians in the French interest were much 
incensed that any of the Moravian Indians chose to 
remain at Gnaden Huetten, and determined to cut ofi' 
the settlement. After Braddock's defeat, in 1755, the 
whole frontier was open to the inroads of the savage 
foe. Every day disclosed new scenes of barbarity 
committed by the Indians. The whole country was 
in terror ; the neighbors of the brethren in Gnaden 
Huetten forsook their dwellings and fled ; but the 
brethren made a covenant together to remain undaunt- 
ed in the place alloted them by Providence. How- 
ever, no caution was omitted ; and becavise the white 
people considered every Indian as an enemy, the In- 
dian brethren in Guaden Huetten were advised, as 
much as possible, to keep out of their way — to buy no 
powder nor shot, but strive to maintain themselves 
without hunting, which they willingly complied with. 

****** But God had otherwise 
ordained. On a sudden the mission house on the 
.Mahoning was, late in the evening of the 24th Nov., 



i 



HISTORY OF CARBON COUNTY. 231 

attacked by the French Indians, burnt, and eleven of 
the mhabitants murdered. 

" The family, being at supper, heard an uncommon 
barking of dogs, upon which brother Senseman went 
out at the back door to see what was the matter. 
On the report of a gun, several ran together to open 
the house door. Here the Indians stood with their 
pieces pointed towards the door, and firing imme- 
diately upon its being opened, Martin Nitchman was 
instantly killed. His wife and some others were 
wounded, but fled with the rest up stairs into the gar- 
ret, and barricaded the door with bedsteads. Brother 
Partsch escaped by jumping out of a back window. 
Brother Worbas, who was ill in bed in a house ad- 
joining, jumped likewise out of a back window and 
escaped, though the enemies had placed a guard be- 
fore his door. Meanwhile the savages pursued those 
who had taken refuge in the garret, and strove hard 
to burst the door open ; but finding it too well secured, 
they set fire to the house, which was soon in flames. 
A boy called Sturgeons, standing upon the flaming 
roof, ventured to leap ofi', and escaped ; though at 
'first, upon opening the back door, a ball had grazed 
his cheek, and one side of his head was much burnt. 
Sister Partsch seeing this, took courage, and leaped 
likewise from the burning rocf She came down un- 
hurt, and unobserved by the enemies ; and thus the 
fervent prayer of her husband was fulfilled, who, in 
jumping out of the back window, cried aloud to God 
to save his wife. Brother Fabricius then leaped also 
off the roof, but before he could escape was perceived 
by the Indians, and instantly wounded by two balls. 
He was the only one whom they seized upon alive, 
and having dispatched him with their hatchets, took 
his scalp, and left him dead on the ground. The rest 
were all burnt aMve, ajid Brother Senseman, who first 
Went out at the back door, had the inexpressible grief 
to see his wife consumed by the flames. Sister 
Partsch could not run far for fear and trembling, but 
•hid herself behind .a tree, upon a hill near the house. 



232 HISTORY OF CARBON COUNTT. 

From hence she saw sister Senseman, already sur- 
rounded by the flames, standmg with folded hands, 
and heard her calling out : " 'Tis all well, dear Sa- 
viour — I expected nothing else !" The house being 
consumed, the murderers set fire to the barns and 
stables, by which all the corn, hay, and cattle were 
destroyed. Then they divided the spoU, soaked some 
bread in milk, made a hearty meal, and departed — 
sister Partsch looking on unperceived. 

" This melancholy event proved the deliverer of 
the Indian congregation at Gnaden Huetten; for up- 
on hearing the report of the guns, seeing the flames, 
and soon learning the dreadful cause from those who 
had escaped, the Indian brethren immediately went to 
the missionary, and offered to attack the enemy with- 
out delay. But being advised to the contrary, they 
all fled into the woods, and Gnaden Huetten was 
cleared in a few moments ; some who already were 
in bed, having scarce thne to dress themselves. I3rother 
Zeisberger, who had just arrived in Gnaden Huetten 
from Bethlehem, hastened back to give notice of this 
event to a body of English militia, who had marched 
within five miles of the spot; but they did not venture 
to pursue the enemy in the dark.* 

After the enemy had retired, the remains of those 
killed at Mahoning, were collected from the ashes 
and ruins, and interred. A marble slab, in the grave 
yard, about one-half mile south of Lehighton, marks 
the place. The compiler visited this place, Sept. 1&, 
1844, when he copied the following inscription : 

To the memory of 

Gottlieb and Christina Anders, 

with their children, Johanna, 

Martin and Susanna Nitshman ; 

Ann Catharina Senseman, 

Leonhard Gattermyer, 
Christian Fabricius, c/erj^j 

*Loskiel,II. 165. 



HISTORY OF CARBON COUNTY. 233 

George Schweigert, John Frederick Lesly, 

and Martin Presser ; 

Who lived at Gnaden Huetten, 

imto the Lord, 

and lost their lives in a surprize 

fi-oni Indian warriors, 

November the 24th, 

1755. 

Precious in the sight of the Lord, is the 

death of his saints. — Psalms cxvi. 15. 

[.^. Bower, Phila., 1788.J 

This chapter is closed by a narrative of the captivity 
of Gilbert and others. The compiler is indebted to 
Mr. Day for it. The narrative is given in detail in 
Loudon's Narrative, Vol. II : 

" Benjamin Gilbert, a Quaker from Byberry, near 
Philadelphia, in 1775, removed with his family to a 
farm on Mahoning creek, five or six miles from Fort 
Allen. His second wife was a widow Peart. He 
was soon comfortably situated with a good log 
dwelling house, barn, and saw and grist mill. For 
five years this peaceable family went on industrious- 
ly and prosperously ; but on the 25th April, 1780, the 
very year after Sullivan's expedition, they were sur- 
prised about sunrise, by a party of eleven Indians, 
who took them all prisoners. 

" At the Gilbert farm they made captives of Ben- 
jamin Gilbert, senior, aged 69 years; Elizabeth his 
wife, 55 ; Joseph Gilbert, his son, 41 ; Jesse Gilbert, 
another son, 19; Sarah Gilbert, wife to Jesse, 19; 
Rebecca Gilbert, a daughter, 16; Abner Gilbert, a 
son, 14; Elizabeth Gilbert, a daughter, 12; Thomas 
Peart, son to Benjamin Gilbert's wife, 23 ; Benjamin 
Gilbert, a son of John Gilbert of Philadelphia, 11 ; 
Andrew Harrigar, of German descent, 26 ; a hirehng 
of Benjamin Gilbert's; and Abigail Dodson, who 
lived on a farm, about one mile from Gilbert's mill. 
The whole number taken at Gilbert's, was 12. The 



£34 HISTORY OP CARBON COUNTIT. 

Indians then proceeded about half a mile to Benja- 
min Peart's dwelling, and there captured himself, 
aged 27, EUzabeth his wife, 20, and their child, nine 
months old. 

" The last look the poor captives had of their onc-e 
comfortable home, was to see the tlames and falling 
in of the roofs, from Summer hill. The Indians led 
iheir captives on a toilsome road over Mauch Chunk 
and Broad mountains, into the Nescopeck path, and 
then across Quakake creek, and the Moravian Pine 
Swamp to Mahoning mountain, where they lodged 
the first night. On the way they had prepared moc- 
casins for some of the children. Indians generally 
secure their prisoners by cutting down a sapling as 
large as a man's thigh, and therein cut notches, in 
which they fix their legs, and over this they place a 
pole, crossing it with stakes drove in the ground, and 
on the crotches of the stakes they place other poles, or 
riders, effectually confining the prisoners on their 
backs; and besides all this they put a strap round their 
necks, which they fasten to a tree. In this manner 
the night passed v/ith the Gilbert family. Their beds 
were Hemlock branches strewed on the ground, and 
blankets for a covering. Andrew Montour was the 
leader of the Indian party. 

" The forlorn band were dragged on over the v/ild 
and rugged region between the Lehigh and the Che- 
mung branch of the Susquehanna. They were often 
ready to faint by the way, but the cruel threat of im- 
mediate death, urged them again to the march. The 
old man, Benjamin Gilbert, indeed had begun to fail, 
and had been painted black — a fatal omen among the 
Indians ; but vdien his cruel captors had put a rope 
around liis neck, and appeared about to kill him, the 
intercessions of his wife, softened their hearts, and he 
was saved. Sif.bsequently, in Canada, the old man, 
conversing with the chief observed, that he might 
say what none of the other Indians could, " that he 
had brought in the oldest man and the youngest 
^hild." The chief's reply was impreesive : ' It was 



HISTORY OF CARBON COUNTY. 235 

not I, but the Great God, who brought you through ; 
for we were determined to kill you, but were pre- 
vented/ 

" On the 54th day of their captivity, the Gilbert 
familly had to encounter the fearful ordeal of the 
gauntlet. ' The prisoners,' says the auther of the 
■narrative, ' were released from the heavy loads they 
had heretofore been compelled to carry, and were it 
not for the the treatment they expected on their ap- 
proaching the Indian towns, and the hardshsp of 
separation, their situation would have been tolerable; 
but the herror of their minds, arising from the dread- 
ful yells of the Indians as they approached the ham- 
lets, is easier conceived than described — for they were 
no strangers to the customary cruelty exercised upon 
the captives on entering their towns. The Indians — 
men, women and children — collect together,* bring- 
ing clubs and stones in order to beat them, which 
they usually do with great severity, by way of re- 
venge for their relations who have been slain. This 
is performed immediately on their entering the village 
where the warriors reside, and cannot be avoided. 
The blows, however cruel, must be borne without 
complaint. The prisoners are sorely beaten until their 
enemies are weary with the cruel sport. Their suf- 
ferings were in this case very great ; they received 
several wounds, and two of the women, who were on 
horseback, were much bruised by falling from their 
horses, which were frightened by the Indians. Eliza- 
beth, the mother, took shelter by the side of one of 
them, (a warrior,) but upon his observing that she 
■met with some favor upon his account, he sent her 
away; she then received several violent blows, so 
that she was almost disabled. The blood trickled 
from their heads in a stream, their hair being crept 
olose, and the clothes they had on in rags, made their 
situation truly piteous. Whilst the Indians were in- 

• The warriors but seldom took part, except by looking on and 
«encouraging the demoniac sport. 



236 HISTORY OP CARBON COUNTY. 

flictingthis revenge upon the captives, the chief came 
aiid put a stop to any further cruelty, by telUng them 
'it was sufficient/ Avhich they immediately attended 
to." 

" Soon after this a severe trial awaited them. They 
were separated from each other. Some were given 
over to Indians to be adopted, others were hired out 
by their Indian owners to service, in white families, 
and others were sent down the lake to Montreal. 
Among the latter was the old patriarch, Benjamin 
Gilbert. But the old man, accustomed to the com- 
forts of civilized life, broken in body and mind, from 
such unexpected calamities, sunk under the complica- 
tion of wo and hardship. His remains repose at the 
foot of an oak, near the old fort of Coeiir clu Lac, on 
the St. Lawrence, below Ogdensburg. Some of the 
family met witli kind treatment from the hands of the 
British officers at Montreal, who were interested in 
their story, and exerted themselves to release them 
from captivity. 

"Sarah Gilbert, the wife of Jesse, becoming a mo- 
ther, Elizabeth left the service she was engaged in — 
Jesse having taken a house, that she might give her 
daughter every necessary attendance. In order to 
make their situation as comfortable as possible, they 
took a child to nurse, which added a little to their in- 
come. After this, Elizabeth Gilbert hired herself to 
iron a day for Adam Scott. While she was at her 
work, a little girl, belonging to the house, acquainted 
her that there were some who wanted to see her, and 
upon entering the room, she found six of her chil- 
dren. The joy and sm-prise she felt on this occasion, 
were beyond what we shall attempt to describe. A 
messenger was sent to inform Jesse and his wife, that 
Joseph Gilbert, Benjamin Peart, Elizabeth, his wife, 
and their young child, and Abner and Elizabeth Gil- 
bert, the younger, were with their mother." 

" Among the customs, or indeed common laws of 
the Indian tribes, one of the most remarkable and in- 
teresting was adoption of prisoners. This right be- 



HITSORY OF CARBON COUNTY. 237 

longed more particularly to the females than to the 
warriors, and well was it for the prisoners that the 
election depended rather upon the voice of the mother 
than on that of the father, as inrmmerable lives were 
thus spared whom the warriors would have immo- 
lated. When once adopted, if the captives assumed 
a cheerful aspect, entered into their modes of life, 
learned their language, and, in brief, acted as if they 
actually felt themselves adopted, all hardship was re- 
moved not incident to Indian modes of life. But, if 
this change of relation operated as amelioration of 
condition in the life of the prisoner, it rendered ran- 
som extremely difficult in all cases, and in some in- 
stances precluded it altogether. These difficulties 
were exemplified in a striking manner in the person 
of Elizabeth Gilbert, the younger. This girl, only 12 
years of age, when captured, was adopted by an In- 
dian family, but afterwards permitted to reside in a 
white family of the name of Secord, by whom she 
was treated as a child indeed, and to whom she be- 
came so much attached as to call Mrs. Secord by tlie 
endearing title of mamma. Her residence, however, 
in a white family, was a favor granted to the Secords 
by the Indian parents of Elizabeth, who regarded 
and claimed her as their child. Mr. Secord having 
business at Niagara, took Betsey, as she was called, 
with hira ; and there, after long separation, she hacl 
the happiness to m.eet with six of her relations, most 
of whom had been already released and were prepar- 
ing to set out for Montreal, lingering and yearning 
k>v those they seemed destined to leave behind, per- 
haps forever. The sight of their beloved little sister 
roused every energy to eflect her release, which de- 
sire was generously seconded by John Secord and 
Colonel Butler, who, soon after her visit to Niagra, 
sent for the Indian who claimed Elizabeth, and made 
overtures for her ransom. At first he declared that 
he "ivoidd not sell his oivn flesh and blood ;^^ but 
attacked through his interest, or in other words, his 
necessities, the negotiation succeeded, and, as we have 



238 HISTORY OP CARBON COUNTY. 

zdready seen, her youngest child was among the trea- 
sures first restored to the mother at Montreal." 

" Eventually they were all redeemed and coDected 
at Montreal, on the 22d August, 1782, when they 
took leave of their kind friends there, and returned to 
Byberry, after a captivity of two years and five 
months. 

" The premises, where stood the dwelling and im- 
provements of the Gilbert family, were, in 1833, oc- 
cupied by Mr. Septimus Hough, on the north side of 
Mahoning creek, on an elevated bank about forty 
perches from the main road, leading from Lehighton 
and Weissport to Tamaqua, and about four miles from 
tlie former. Benjamin Peart lived about half a mile 
further up the creek, and about one-fourth of: a mile 
from the same, on the south side. Mr. Robert 
M'Daniel lived on the place in 1833." 



HISTORY, &e. 

05 

SCHUYLKILL COUNTY. 



CHAPTER I. 

SCHUYLKILL COUNTY ERECTED, 

Before describing the present boundary, &c. of 
ihis county, it is deemed to be of sufficient interest to 
the reader, to present him a brief history of the erec- 
tion of Berks county, from which the greater propor- 
tion of Schuylkill has been taken. 

The lands on the Tulpehocken were still owned by 
the Indians till 1732-'33, when Thomas Penn pur- 
chased them, which more effectually opened the door 
to emigrants into that part of the province within the 
limits of Berks and Lebanon; and soon afterwards 
many went beyond the mountains, within the present 
hmits of Schuylkill. Germans and others, especially 
the former, who had already seated, sent for their rela- 
tives and kindred ; and they in turn, on their arrival 
here, enticed others — till several thousand settled in 
various parts on the Schuylkill, Tulpehocken, and 
other places — till every glen, vale, hill, and mountain, 
was more or less settled — and under such circum- 
stances, the inhabitants felt the want of a new county., 
and were led to petition the Assembly for privileges 
which Penn and his successors had awarded. For 
William Penn, shortly after his arrival, in 1682, es- 
tablished several counties, namely: Philadelphia, 
Bucks, and Chester. Philadelphia county then ex- 
tended indefinitely towards the north-west, bounded 
on the east by Bucks, and on the west by the Schuyl- 
kill, which separated it from Chester county, which 
inckided, at that time. Delaware county, and all the 
P 






242 HISTORY OF SCHUYLKILL COUNTY. 

territory, except a small portion now within the limits 
of Philadelphia county, south-west of the Schuylkill, 
and extended to the extreme limits of the province, 
north, west, and south. In 1729, Chester was reduced, 
by erecting Lancaster county out of it. In 1749, 
York county was erected, and in 1750, Cumberland 
was established. Berks was erected, March 11th, 
1752. 

At the time of erecting Berks county, its popula- 
tion was from six to eight thousand. As it may be 
interesting to the reader, a copy of the petition to the 
Assembly, and other papers, have been copied, and 
are inserted, 

A petition from a considerable number of the in- 
habitants of Readingtovvn, upon Schuylkill, was 
presented to the house, February 4th, 1752, and read, 
setting forth, that they had settled in the said town, 
expecting tliat it would be a great place of trade and 
business, and had put themselves to vast expense in 
building and removing thither with their families, 
several of whom left tolerable good plantations; that 
though the said town had not above one house in it 
about two years ago, (1750) yet it now consists of 
one hundred and thirty dwelling houses, besides fortv- 
one stables, and other out-houses, and that there arc 
one hundred and sixty families, consisting of three 
hundred and seventy-eight persons settled therein; 
that they have good reason to believe that in another 
summer they will be much increased, as the chief 
part of the province that can be settled is already 
taken up, and the settling of the town will be of great 
benefit to tradesmen and others, who are not able to 
purchase tracts of land to live on; that they humbly 
conceived it to be their interest, to the honorable pro- 
prietaries, as well as themselves, and that unless this 
house will be pleased to erect part of the counties o; 
Philadelphia, Chester, and Lancaster, into a separate 
county, they siiall be entirely disappointed of their 
expectations, notwithstanding all the cost and troubU 



HISTORY OF SCHUYLKILL COUNTY. 243 

?:hey have been at ; that tlierefore, they pray this 
liouse would take then- case into consideration, and 
grant them reUef, by erecting such parts of said coun- 
ties, as they sliall think most proper, into a new 
-county, with tlie same privileges that the other coun- 
ties of this province enjoy ; and that the seat of judi- 
cature be fixed within the said town of Reading.* 

Another petition was presented, February 5, 1752, 
from which the following extract is presented : "They 
lind the causes of their complaint still growing, they 
humbly beg leave further to represent, that they are 
settled at a very great distance from the place of judi- 
cature, many of them not less than one hundred miles, 
which is a real hardship upon those who are so un- 
happy as to be sued for debts, their charges in long 
journej'-s, and sometimes in severe weather, with the 
officers^ fees, amounting to near as much, if not more, 
than the debts ; that the hardships on jurymen, con- 
stables, and in being obliged to attend when required, 
is also very great; that now there is a new town laid 
out by the proprietaries' order, within fifteen perches 
of the division line between Philadelphia and Lancas- 
ter counties, and above one hundred and thirty 
houses, and near as many families living therein, it is 
very easy for rogues and others to escape justice, by 
cro?sing Schuylkill, which has already been their 
practice lor some years ; that though their grievances 
were laid before the Assembly some years past,t 
were not redressed, because of other weighty affairs 
being at that time under consideration ; yet the prayer 
of their petition was thought reasonable, and the 
number of petitioners being since doubled by the in- 
crease of the back inhabitants, they therefore pray, 
that this house would grant relief in the premises by 
erecting them into a separate county, bounded, as to 
the wisdom of this house shall seembest."t 

* Votes of Assembly, vol. iv., p. 204. 

\ 1739-40. Feb. 4, a petitioa signed by Conrad Weiser, John 
Davis, James Lewis, and others, was presented. 
t Votes of Assembly, vol. 4, p. SO.I-. 



244 HISTORY OF SCHUYLKILL COUNTY. 

The prayer of the petitioners was granted by the 
passing of act, March 11th, 1752,* directing the erec- 
tion of a county out of parts of ]Philadelphia,t Ches- 
ter,:!: and Lancaster counties. § 

<• Whereas, a great number of the back inhabitants 
of the county of Philadelphia, and the adjacent parts 
of Chester and Lancaster, by their petition, have 
humbly represented to the Governor and Assembly 
of this province, their remote situation from their re- 
spective county towns, where the courts of justice are 
held, and public offices kept, whereby they are fre- 
quently put to extraordinary expense of money, and 
loss of time, in their long journeys thither, as parties 
in cases, witnesses, jurymen, &c. For remedying 
which inconveniences, and relief of the inhabitants 
in those remote parts in the premises, be it enacted by 
the Hon. James Hamilton, Esq., Lieutenant Gover- 
nor, under the Hon. Thomas Penn and Richard Penn, 
true and absolute proprietaries of the Province of 
Pennsylvania, and of the counties of New Castle,. 
Kent and .Sussex, upon the Delaware, by and with 
the advice and consent of the representatives of the 
freemen of the said province, in general assembly 
met, and by the authority of the same : That all and 
suigular the lands lying within the province of Penn- 
sylvania aforesaid, within the limits and bounds as 
Jiereinafter described, be erected into a county, and 
the same are hereby erected into a county, named and 
henceforth to be called Berks ; bounded as follows : 
By a line, at the distance of ten superficial miles south- 
west from the western bank of the river Schuylkill^ 
opposite to the mouth of a creek called Monocasy .\[ 

* A, vol. iii., p. 227 of the rolls at Harrisburg. 

fAlsace, Exefer, Ainit}', Allimengle, or Albany, Oley, Cole- 
brook-dale, and Herel'ord townships, then organized, were pans 
ot" Philadelphia county. 

^Coventry and part of Nantmill, now Union, part of Chester 
rounty- 

§C:j;rnarvon, Robeson, Heidelberg, Bethel, Tulpehocken, 
€utnru, and Bern, then organized part of Lancaster county. 

iFeb. 18, 1769, an act was passed to settle thialine. 



HISTORY OF SCHUYLKILL COUNTY. 245 

to the run north north-west to the extremity of the 
province, and south-east, until it shall intersect the line 
of Chester county ; then on one straight line of McCall's 
manor ; then along the said line to the extremity 
thereof, and continuing the same course, to the line 
dividing Philadelphia and Bucks counties ; then along 
the said line north-west, to the extent of the county 
aforesaid. 

That it shall and may be lawful to, and for, Antho- 
ny Lee, Francis Parvin, William Mangridge, William 
Bird and Joseph Millard, or any three of them, to 
purchase and take assurance to them and their heirs, 
of a piece of land, situate in some convenient place in 
the town of Reading, in trust, and for the use of the 
inhabitants of said county, and thereon to erect and 
build a court house and prison, sufficient to accommo- 
date the public service of the said county, and for the 
ease and conveniency of the inhabitants. For which 
purpose three hundred pounds were authorized to be 
assessed and levied, for purchasing land, and finishing 
the court house and prison. 

By the same act, Edward Scull of Philadelphia 
county, Benjamin Lightfoot of Chester county, and 
Thomas Cookson of Lancaster county, were appoint- 
ed to run, mark out and distinguish the boundary 
line between the said counties of Philadelphia, Ches- 
ter, Lancaster and of Berks. 

An act was passed, February 18, 1769, appointing 
William McClay, William Scull and John Biddle, jr., 
to settle and fix the boundary line dividing the coun- 
ties of Lancaster, Berks and Cumberland. The for- 
mer commissioners, Edward Scull, Benjamin Light- 
foot, and Thomas Cookson, not having continued said 
line further than the settlement at that time (1752) 
made. And whereas, many were then (1769) settled, 
and new settlements then making beyond the said 
lines of 1752, and disputes having then already risen, 
and others were likely to arise, concerning the limits 
.'.lifd bounds of the said counties of Lancaster, Cum- 



246 HISTORY OF SCHUYLKILL COUNTY. 

berland, Berks, and Northampton ; by reason of the- 
boundary lines of 1752, not being completed, the act 
of February 18, 1769, authorized and required 
Messrs. McClay, Scull, and Biddle, and enjoined it 
that they should, within the space of nine months 
from the passage of the act, " to assemble themselves 
together, and to extend, run, and mark out, by actual 
survey, the boundary lines betAveen the said counties 
of Lancaster, Cumberland, and Berks, and between 
the county of Berks and that of Northampton, by 
continuing the said due north-west course, from the 
south-east ends of the lines already run between the 
said counties respectively, as far as the lands lately 
purchased by the honorable, the proprietaries of this 
province from the Indians, do extend ; and that the 
costs, charges, and expenses of running, ' surveying, 
and marking out the said line, so far as the same 
shall run between the said counties of Berks and 
Lancaster — and that the costs, charges, and expenses 
of running the said line, so far as the same shall ex- 
tend between the said counties of Cumberland and 
Berks, shall be paid equally between the said coun- 
ties of Berks and Cumberland." 

Berks, since its organization or erection in 1752, 
has been reduced by annexation of a part to the 
county of Northumberland, March 21, 1772, which 
was erected out of parts of Lancaster, Cumberland^ 
Berks, Bedford, and Northampton; and by the erec- 
tion of Schuylkill. 

As above stated, Berks county was formed out of 
Philadelphia, Chester, and Lancaster counties. Alt 
on the east side of the Schuylkill was, at the erection 
of Berks, part of Philadelphia, and was divided into 
the following townships : Alsace, Exeter, Amity, 
Allimengle, or Albany, Oley, and Colebrookdale. 
The southern portion of Berks was part of Chester, 
and divided into two townships, Coventry and Nant- 
mill ; parts of each of these townsbips are now ill- 
eluded in Union township, organized since the eree- 



HISTORY OF SCHUYLKILL COUNTY. 247 

Mon of the county. The west and north-west portion 
was part of Lancaster, and divided into the following 
Townships, namely : Caernarvon, Robeson, Tiilpe- 
hocken, Heidleberg, Eetliel, Tulpehocken, Cumru, 
and Bern. 

SchuylkiU covniy was erected out of parts of 
Berks county and Northampton county, by an act of 
assembly, passed March 1st, 1811. In that act it is 
set forth that: " Whereas, the inhabitants of the 
northern parts of Berks and Northampton counties, 
have, by their petitions, set forth to the general as- 
ijembly of this state, the great hardship they labor 
under, from being so remote from the present seat of 
justice, and the public offices: Be it enacted, »5r. 
That all that part of Berks county, lying and being 
within the limits of the following townships, to wit : 
The townships of Brunswick, Schuylkill, Manheim, 
Norwegian, Upper Mahantango, Lower Mahantango, 
and Pine Grove, in Berks county ; and the townships 
of West Penn and Rush, in Northampton county, 
shall be, and the same are hereby, according to their 
present lines, declared to be erected into a county, 
henceforth to be called Schuylkill 

By the same act, courts were authorized to be held 
at the house then occupied by Abraham Reiffsnyder, 
in the township of Brunswick, until a court house 
should be built.* 

The following is an extract from the records of the 
court of quarter sessions : 

At a court of qarter sessions held at Orwigsburg, 
cm the third Monday in December, 1811, before the 
Hon. Robert Porter, Esq., President Judge, the fol- 
lowing Attornies were admitted : 

George Wolf, Charles Evans, Frederick Smith, Wm. 
Witman, James B. Hubley, John Spayd, John W. 
Collins, M. J. Biddle, Samuel Baird, John Ewing. 

'Smith's Laws of Pa. V. p. 202. 



248 



HISTORY OF SCHUYLKILL COUNTY. 



Townships. 

Brunswick, 

Manheim, 

Norwegian, 

Gine Prove, 

Upper Mahantango, 

Lower Mahantango, 

Schuylkill, 

West Penn, 

Rush, 



Constables. 

Christian Kaup. 

Jacob Emrich. 

Isaac Reed. 

Christopher Barnhard 

Peter Kahrl. 

Joseph Keffer. 

George Olinger. 

None appeared, 
do do 

William Green, sheriff of Schuylkill county, hav- 
ing returned the precept to him directed, in all things 
duly executed, whereupon the following persons were 
sworn and affirmed as a grand inquest, viz : 

Bernard Kepner, George Body, Jacob Houser, 
Adam Yost, Philip Fegelly, Tobias Wagoner, Isaac 
Yarnell, Peter Kaup, Conrad Rader, Daniel Fenster- 
macher, Daniel Bensinger, Peter Albright, Josepli 
Heck, Joseph Old, Abraham HotTee, John Klock, 
Daniel Graeff, George Hillowgas, Andrew Gilbert, 
Philip Seidle, Conrad Yeager. 



i 



4 

i 



CHAPTEE II. 

TOPOGRAPHY, &c., OF TOWNSHIPS. 

East Brunswick township is in the southern part 
of the county, and is bounded north-east by West 
Penn township ; south-east by Lehigh and Berks 
counties ; south-west and west by West Brunswick ; 
north by Schuylkill township. The surface of this 
township is diversified; some portions mountainouSj 
some hilly, and undulating. The Blue mountain 
runs along the southern and Second mountain along 
its northern boundary; the intervening space diversi- 
fied. The soil is naturally not productive. Some 
portion of the land is classed among unseated lands. 
The population, in 1840, was 1,230. Taxes, assessed 
in 1844, for county purposes, $1,066 51 ; state tax, 
$485 31 ; on unseated lands, for county purposes, 
S25 54; state tax, g 10 21. 

Port Clinton, a post town, laid out in 1829, in 
Brunswick township, at the confluence of the Ta- 
maqua, or Little Schuylkill river with the main stream 
above the Water Gap, in the Blue mountain. It is 
quite a thriving place, having become such by the 
shipment of the products of the coal mines around 
Tamaqua. The Little Schuylkill railroad extends 
from this place, about twenty-three miles, into the 
coal fields about Tamaqua — the coal fields of the 
Tuscarora and Mauch Chunk mountain ; and the 
Schuylkill canal runs through the town, which adds 
greatly to the prosperity of the place. The country 
around Port Clinton is very mountainous and sterile. 



s 



250 HISTORY OF SCHUYLKILL COUNTY. 

During the Frencli and Indian war, the few scat- 
tering inhabitants, contiguous to the mountain, and 
the present boundary of Berks, were occasionally 
alarmed on account of the murders committed by the 
savages that were marauding through the southern 
portion of Schuylkill count)^, (then Berks.) The fol- 
lowing account of massacres, committed by the Indi- 
ans, is here inserted, to show the situation of the 
pioneer settlers along the Bhie mountain : 

In the early part of February, 1756, the Indians 
committed several cruel and barbarous murders in 
this township. On the 14th of February, 1756, the 
Indians came to the house of Frederick Reichelsdenfer, 
shot two of his children, set his house and barn on 
fire, and burnt up all his grain and cattle. Thence 
they proceeded to the house of Jacob G-erhart, where 
they killed one man, two women, and six children. 
Two children slipped under the bed, one of which 
was burned ; the other escaped, and ran a mile to 
get to the people. 

When the intelligence of this murder had reached 
Maxatany, many of the inhabitants of that township 
repaired to Albany, to see what damage had been 
done ; while on their way, they received accounts of 
other murders : " When," says Jacob Levan, in a 
letter to Mr. Seely, February 15, 1756, " I had got 
ready to go with my neighbors from Maxatany, to 
see what damage was done in Albany, three men, 
that had seen the shocking affair, came and told me 
that eleven were killed, eight of them burnt, and the 
other three found dead out of the fire. An old man 
was scalped, the two others, little girls, were not 
scalped."* 

On the 24th of March following, says the Pennsyl- 
vania Gazette, April 1, 1756, ten wagons went up to 
Allemaengle, (Albany) to bring down a family with 
their effects; and as they were returnhig, about three 
miles below George Zeislofi^'s, were fired upon by a 

* History of Berks and Lebanon, p. 58. 



HISTORY OF SCHUYLKILL COUNTY. 251 

number of Indians from both sides of the road ; upon 
which the wagoners left their Avagons and ran into 
the woods, and the horses, frightened at the firing 
and terrible yelling of the Indians, ran down a hill 
and broke one of the wagons to pieces. That the 
enemy killed George Zeisloif and his wife, a lad of 
twenty, a boy of twelve, also a girl of fourteen years 
old, four of whom they scalped. That another girl 
was shot in the neck, and through the mouth, and 
scalped, notwithstanding all which she got oft\ That 
a boy was stabbed in three places, but the wounds 
were not thought to be mortal. That they killed two 
of the horses, and five are missing, with which it is 
thought the Indians carried off the most valuable 
goods that were in the wagon. 

Sometime in November, 1756, the Indians appeared 
again in this township, and carried off the wife of 
and three children of Adam Burns — the youngest 
child was only four weeks old. In the month of June, 
1737, the Indians murdered one Adam Trinnp — they 
took Trump's wife and his son, a lad nineteen years 
old, prisoners; but the woman escaped, though upon 
her flying, she was so closely pursued by one of the 
Indians, (of which there were seven,) that he threw 
his tomahawk at her, and cut her badly in the neck. 
The instances of murder were both numerous and 
barbarous in this township. 

Manhdrn township is bounded on the north by 
Norwegian township ; east by West Brunswick ; 
south by Berks county ; and west by Wayne town- 
ship. The surface of the township is diversified ; on 
the northern boundary is the Sharp mountain ; the 
Blue mountain is along the south, and the Second 
mountain crosses the interval. The soil is principally 
good — naturally not very productive, though we meet 
occasionally some tolerably well improved farms. The 
township is pretty well watered. The Schuylkill river 
winds through the north-eastern portion of it, and 



252 - HISTORY OF SCHUYLKILL COUNTY. 

receives in its course the west branch of the Indian 
run, which rises in this township, and flows north- 
east along the south side of the Sharp mountain. 
Panther creek rises also in this township, flowing an 
eastern direction, and empties into the Schuylkill 
river, six miles west of Orwigsburg ; Beaver creek, 
Long run, Bear creek, and some smaller streams. 

In 1840, this township contained thirteen stores? 
four grist mills, sixteen saw mills, one furnace, one 
forge, one powder mill, two tanneries. Population 
in' 1820, 2,104; in 1830, 2,160; in 1840, 3,441. 
Taxes assessed in 1844, for county purposes, ^2,208 
75 ; state tax, $923 03. 

Schuylkill Haven, a post village and borough, in- 
corporated in 1841, is situated on the left bank of the 
Schuylkill river, four miles below Pottsville, immedi- 
ately below the junction of the West Branch, and 
about three miles west of Orwigsburg. It was laid 
out in 1829, by Mr. D. I. Rhodes, and others. The 
West Branch railroad here communicates with the 
Schuylkill Navigation, and the transhipment of the 
coal has created considerable busmess in this place, 
and contributed much to the growth of the place. 
The town consists now of about eighty good, and 
many small dwellings, five stores, five taverns, two 
churches — an Episcopal and a JVIethodist churclL 
There is also a German Reformed church near it. 
The population numbers about 1,000. Here is a 
weigh lock for canal boats, a grist mill and a saw 
mill ; two bridges across the river. 

The railroad company has jtist finished an exten- 
sive building, in the form of a cupola, 126 feet in di- 
ameter, and about 100 feet high. It is intended for a 
'• car depot." It adds much to the appearance of the 
town, which for fineness of scenery can vie with 
towns of greater magnitude. " Fertile farms and very 
picturesque scenery surround the town, and the 
brio-ht river here meanders anions: the broad meadows 



HISTORY OF SCHUYLKILL COUNTY. 253 

as if delighted with being unrestrained by the rocky 
precipices of the coal region. 

"The West Branch raih'oad brings in the products of 
many rich mines. It has been constructed in a sub- 
stantial manner, and of such dimensions that the 
heavy cars of the Reading railroad, with which it 
here intersects, may run upon it." 

Branch toiunship is bounded on the north-west by 
Barry township ; north-east by Norwegian ; south- 
east by Wayne, and south-west by Lower Mahan- 
tango. The surface of this township is diversified ; 
the soil a red shale and gravel, is somewhat fruitful, 
if carefully cultivated ; and sufficiently so, as to am- 
ply repay the labor bestowed upon it. The abun- 
dance of anthracite coal adds infinitely to the value of 
this township. A considerable portion is classed 
among unseated lands. The several ridges of the 
Mahonoy, and spurs of the Broad mountains, cover 
its surface. The West Branch of the Schuylkill 
flows through this township. In 1840, it contained 
two grist mills, fourteen saw mills, eight stores. In 
the same year, there were mined in this township, 
300,000 tons of anthracite coal. In 1844, there were 
mined a much larger quantity. The tax for county 
purposes in 1844, was $2,256 59; state tax, ^914 19 ; 
on unseated lands, for county purposes, ^377 36 ; state 
tax, $158 09. Population in 1840, 1,442. 

Minersville, a post town, incorporated into a 
borough, April 1, 1841, in Norwegian township, is 
beautifully situated, four miles north-Avest of Potts- 
ville, in a delightful valley, through which the West 
Branch of the Schuylkill river meanders purlingly. It 
is a place of considerable importance. The editor 
of the Miners' Journal says, when speaking of this 
place, in December, 1830 : " A little more than twelve 
months ago, the present site of the town dAvelt in all 
the loneliness of uncultivated nature, since which its 
aspect has undergone a wonderful change in improve- 



254 HISTORY OP SCHUYLKILL COUNTY. 

merits and population. Along the margin of the 
town, the West Branch rail road extends, and termi- 
nates at Schuylkill Haven, distance seven miles and 
a half from Minersville, affording an easy and expe- 
ditious mode of transportation. The principal street 
bears the name of Sunbury, on which are situated all 
the stores and public buildings. It was formerly the 
old Sunbury road, communicating with the rich val- 
leys in the direction of the Susquehanna. The 
iiorthern portion of the village is firm dry soil, grad- 
ually rising and affording a southern exposure of 
favorable character for private dwellings, Seven 
large houses have already been erected during the 
present season on this spot, by Messrs. Bennet & Gil- 
more, together with a number of small buildings in 
the same quarter. Last spring there were but six 
dwellings in all, since which there has been an in- 
crease of forty-nine substantial houses."* 

At present the town consists of rising one hundred 
dwellings, many of which are commodious; six 
taverns, nine stores, five churches ; one Welsh Cal- 
vinistic, Welsh Baptist, Welsh New School Presby- 
terian, Methodist, and German Reformed and Lu- 
theran; a flouring niiil, steam saw mill, foundery, car 
manufactory, and a number of warehouses. The town 
is surrounded by mines and coal hills, abounding in 
anthracite coal of good quality. 

The first machine for breaking coal in this county, 
was erected on Wolf creek, near this town, by Mr. 
Bast. We saw tliis machine at work, and it seems to 
answer a good purpose, for it saves a vast amount of 
labor. 

LhwcUijn, which it obtained from a Welsh miner, 
David Llewellyn, is a brisk village, on the West 
Branch of the Schuylkill, consisting of some fifty or 
sixty dwellings, llu'ce taverns and several stores. 
There is considearable business done here. 

Two miles and a half north-west from the village 

* Hazard's Reg. Pa., Vol. vii. p. 16. 



HITSORT OF SCHUYLKILL COUNTY. 255 

is the immense tminel of the New York company. 
It is driven into the "Broad mountain, and wide 
enough for a double track of railroad. 

Lower Mahantango township* is bounded on the 
north by Upper Mahantango township ; on the north- 
east by Barry and Branch townships ; south by Pine 
Grove ; and south-west by Dauphin county. The 
Mahantango mountain extends along its northern 
boundary, dividing this township from Upper Ma- 
liantango. The Broad mountain crosses it from 
south-west to north-east, and the Sharp mountain 
runs on and near the southern line. The surface is 
diversified, mountainous, hilly and undulating ; and 
portions of it very rugged and broken ; a considera- 
ble proportion is classed among "unseated land." 
Many of its valleys, for they are numerous, and hill 
sides are productive, having a soil of red shale — am- 
ply repaying the labor expended on its improvement. 
It is watered and drained by Long Pine creek, which 
crosses the township from east to west ; Deep creek 
and the Swatara from the southern part of the town- 
ship. In Deep creek valley, anthracite coal abounds. 
In 1840 it contained four stores, five grist mills, thir- 
teen saw mills, two tanneries. Population in 1820, 
937 ; in 1830, 1,234 ; in 1840, 1,465. Taxes assessed 
in 1844, for county purposes, $1,384 36; state tax, 
$i5S8 24. Taxes on unseated lands — county tax, 
g528 34; state tax, .$211 47. 

Barry township is bounded on the north by Up- 
per jNIahantango township ; north-east by Norwegian ; 
soutii-east by Branch ; and south-west by Lower 
Maliantango. The surface is hilly and mountainous. 

'Since 1840, Porfer township has been erected, and is bounded 
en the east hy Lower Mahantango; south by Pine Grove town- 
ship ; west by Dauphin county. Thie township has much " un- 
sciited land," the tax upon which was, in 1844, §419 09. The 
county tax on real and personal estate, besides on unseated land, 
u\ 1844, was §187 96; state tax, $87 50. 



256 HISTORY OF SCHUYLKILL COUNTY. 

The several ridges of the Mahahony and spurs of the 
Broad mountain cover its surface, but the intervening 
valleys have a soil of red shale and are tolerably 
productive. Much, however, of the land is classed 
among " unseated lands." 

In one of these valleys, to the south-east, flows 
Deep creek into Long Pine creek, which also rises in 
this township. The Great Mahonoy and Little Ma- 
li onoy creeks, both considerable streams, flow through 
this township ; the former rises in Bush township, 
and flows west, south-west, along the south side of 
the Mahonoy ridge, about fifty miles, and falls into 
the Susquehanna river, eleven miles below Sunbury. 
About one-half its course towards its mouth is in 
Northumberland county. In 1840, it contained two 
stores, one forge, three grist mills, twenty-three saw 
mills. Population in 1830, 443 ; in 1840, 639. Taxes 
levied in 1844, for county purposes, ^795 13 ; state 
tax, $235 30. Taxes on U7iseatedlands, {or county 
purposes, $377 36; state tax, $158 09. 

Fine Grove toiunsMj) is one of the south western 
townships, and is bounded on the north by Potts 
township, erected since 1840 ; east by Wayne ; south 
by Berks county ; and west by Lebanon and Dauphin 
counties. The surface of this township is generally 
very mountainous, though we meet with here and 
there an inviting and fertile spot, rendered productive 
by the persevering hand of industry. A considerable 
proportion is classed among " unseated lands." 

" This township is drained by the Swatara creek, 
whose branches traverse it in every direction. Along 
the main stream of the Swatara, which flows on the 
north side of the Blue mountain, runs the navigable 
feeder of the Union canal, including the Great Dam, 
or Artificial Lake, made by the Union Canal Com- 
pany, in a narrow part of the gorge of the mountain 
tin-ough which the creek passes. This great work 
extends across the pass, abutted by solid rocks, four 



HISTORY OF SCHUYLKILL COUNTY. 257 

liundred and thirty feet, and the water which is ar- 
rested, covers between seven and eight hundred acres. 
A towing path is constructed along tlie margin to the 
head of the pond, a distance of six miles, from which 
place the canal has been continued four miles to the 
village of Pine Grove, where basins have been made 
to facilitate the coal trade." 

A gentleman, William Rank, Esq.,* in a commu- 
nication to the writer, speaking of the Great Dam, 
says : " The Union Canal Company erected a dam in 
the Swatara Gap, of immense altitude, for a dam; 
forty-five feet, is the height of it! This dam inun- 
dates about eight hundred acres of land ; and the 
])ond forms a complete artificial lake, and proves, O!"- 
casionally, a death place for some deer, which, to 
elude the chase of dogs, take to the deep and are 
there taken, Thsre are still some deer in the moun- 
tains, not distant from the dam. The way hunters 
manage to take deer is, to set their dogs in pursuit of 
them, and during the chase, some of the party of the 
hunters do take stations near and along the pond or 
lake ; when the deer are hotly pursued by the dogs, 
they make for the water, and thus are taken, in some 
cases alive, by the hunters. 

" The dam was constructed to serve as a reservoir, 
to feed the canal — it needs feeding, for it consumes 
much to keep all its functions moving — and also to 
answer as a slack water navigation, for the distance 
of six miles, towards Pine Prove, and the coal region. 
What changes!" 

In 1840, it contained six stores, two furnaces, one 
forge, three grist mills, twelve saw mills. Population 
in 1820, 1,868, (including part of Wayne;) in 1830, 
1,609 ; in 1840, 1,605, besides those of "Pine Grove 
borough." Taxes assessed in 1844, for county pur- 
poses, $1,426 53 ; state tax, $642 47. (For the 
borough, $364 92; $151 57.) Taxes on unseated 

•History of Berks and Lebanon, p. 350. 

Q 



258 HI=-:'ORY OP SCHUYLKILL COUNTY. 

lands, for county purposes, $632 39 ; state tax ob! 
same, $256 71. 

Pine Grove, post town and borough of Pine Grove 
township, is a beautiful and busy place, situate at the 
base of the Blue mountain, on the Swatara creek,, 
about fifteen miles west of the river Schuylkill, and 
eighteen from Pottsville. It may be emphatically 
termed a business place, for .every one in it appears 
to be employed — " loafers and idlers are scarce." 

" It is the principal shipping depot of the western 
section of the great anthracite coal basin, possessing 
facilities for transportation through the medium of the 
Union canal, a branch of which extends to this place, 
and terminates in basins made for boats, from which 
a railroad leads to the coal region, and several 
branches of it to different coal mines, on Larberry 
creek, four or five miles from the town, by means of 
which coals are conveyed to the shipping depot. 
Here the busy hum of active employment, joined to 
the rumbling of the car wheels, and the rattling of 
the article as it is unloaded into the boats, breaks 
pleasantly upon the ear through the quiet which en- 
velopes the dwelling portion of the borough."* 

The town has several streets and about one hun- 
dred dwellings ; several large, commodious hotels, six 
or seven stores, a large German Reformed and 
Lutheran church, an academy, several mills. There is 
also a forge contiguous, established since 1828. Be- 
fore the commencement of the coal trade, this region 
was sparsely inhabited by a few scattered German 
farmers, and some lumbermen ; for there was a time, 
not more than thirty years ago, when lumber and 
building materials were brought, in great quantities 
down the Swatara, and landed at Jonestown, in 
Lebanon county, from which those of Tulpehocken, 
Muleback, and others, were supplied ; but, since 
the tables have turned, lumber of various kinds is 
brought up the canal from Portsmouth, on the Sus- 

*Anthracite Gazette, 1844. 



i 



HISTORY OP SCHUYLKILL COUNTY. 259 

quehanila, to Pine Grove and intermediate places. 
These changes have proved reverses to many. The 
future prosperity of this place will depend much upon 
the facilities afforded in transporting coal to market. 
Pine Grove was incorporated, March 1, 1843. 

Since the commencement of the coal business, a 
considerable quantity of coal has been shipped from 
Pine Grove; in 1837, 17,000 tons; in 1838, 13,000; 
in 1839,20,639; in 1840, 23,860; in 1841, 17,653; 
in 1842, 32,381; in 1843,22,905; in 1844, 34,916- 
making an aggregate, in eight years, of 182,354 tons. 

If the Union canal were widened so as to admit 
large boats, the quantity shipped here would be ma- 
terially increased. 

Swataraville, near Pine Grove, is a small village, 
consisting of a few old looking dwellings. 

Rush township is bounded on the north-west by 
Union township ; north-east by Carbon county ; south 
by West Penn township ; and south-west by Schuyl- 
kill township. This, like other townships in this re- 
gion, is covered to some considerable extent with 
mountains and high hills, not yet thoroughly explored., 
except the southern section, which abounds with coal 
mines. It is said that there is a salt spring in this 
township, near the mouth of Panther creek, a small 
tributary of the Little Schuylkill river. In 1820, this 
township contained only 253 inhabitants; in 1830. 
359; in 1840, 370. It contains several villages or 
towns. 

Home, laid out some ten or fifteen years ago, by 
the Messrs. Duncan of Philadelphia, is situated in 
Locust valley, at the intersection of the Catawissa and 
Berwick roads. " It is said to possess advantages not 
common in this part of the coimtry ; to be surround- 
ed by good farm land, having abundance of limestone 
in the neighborhood." It consists of few houses. 

Patterson, named after Burd Patterson, Esq., is on 
ihe Schuylkill valley railroad, about seven miles from 



260 HISTORY OF SCHUFLKILL COUNTY. 

Port Carbon, at the confluence of the Big creek with 
the Schuylkill river. It was laid out by Burd Patter- 
son, Swift and Porter, in 1830, and contains twenty 
dwellings, two taverns. In the sunny days of this 
once bustling village, Messrs. Halsey & Runnion 
erected a brewery, which has, however, been aban- 
doned for some years. Minehill, abounding with ex- 
cellent anthracite coal, approaches the town, and no 
doubt will furnish the means of the future prosperity 
of the place. 

The first settlement made in the vicinity of this 
' village, was by John Bushey, between 1785 and 1790. 
Bushey afterwards sold it to Mr. John Seltzer. 

Tuscarora, a post village, in Rush township, on the 
north side of Tuscarora mountain, at the head waters 
of the Schuylkill river, and on the Shuylkill valley 
railroad, was laid out in 1830, by Joseph Lyon. It 
is one of the Alladin lamp creations of the coal trade, 
and consists of twenty dwellings, much scattered, two 
taverns and one store. The principal part of the 
town, with a large tract of land, is held by Stevenson, 
and Schuylkill company. Formerly it was chiefly 
inhabited by miners, who depended on the coal trade. 
Near the village is an extensive coal mine, which has 
been worked for nine years, by James Palmer, but 
at present it is not in operation. The village is loca- 
ted in a wild and barren country, and its future pros- 
perity depends upon the success of coal business here. 
The railroad terminates here, connecting \vith Port 
Carbon. Some ten years ago, Bell & Son, erected a 
large conmiodious frame building, which was occu- 
pied several years as a hotel; but owing to a change 
of times, it has not been occupied as such for the last 
six years. The first settlers in and about Tuscarora, 
were George Raber, Jacob Ladig, Peter Ladig and 
Henry Schell. Mr. Raber resided for many years, 
one mile west of Tuscarora, where he had purcliased 
an improvement made by George Frehero, sixty years 



HISTORY OF SCHUYLKILL COUNTY. 361 

sgo. Rlieinhard, Kersher, and Fries, were early set- 
tlers east of Tiiscarora. 

Tcwiaqiia, a post town and village, laid out by the 
Little Schuylkill Railroad Coal and Navigation Com- 
pany, in 1830, is situated in the valley between Sharp 
and Locust mountains, on the Tamaqua, or Little. 
Schuylkill river, ten miles from where it rises, and 
twenty above its junction with the main stream, and 
sixteen from Pottsville. At present it is quite a brisk, 
place. Like many of the.coa/ towns, the houses are 
not built hard by each other — rather in steaggling 
clusters, numbering in all one hundred and fifty dwel- 
lings, some of which are substantially built. It con- 
tains six taverns, seven stores, one Catholic church, 
one Methodist Episcopal, one German Reformed and 
Lutheran, and are about erecting a church to be call- 
ed the Primative Methodist j a car and coach manu- 
factory. Population 1000. 

The inhabitants mainly depend on the coal trade ; 
for anthracite coal is abundant here, found in large 
veins, and of excellent quality. The coal lands in the 
vicinity are principally owned by the Little Schuyl- 
kill Company. The coal mines worked here are 
above water level. The veins of coal are alphabeti- 
cally enumerated ; several of them have been success- 
fully mined. Vein D, on the east side of the Little 
Schuylkill, or Tamaqua river, has a drift into it 4000 
feet in length, from which one hundred and fifty tons 
of coal are taken daily. From the same vein, on the 
west side of the river, sixty or seventy tons are daily 
taken out — one of which is worked by the Little 
Schuylkill Company, and the other by Messrs. Rat- 
cliff & Johnson. Vein E, on the east side of Tama- 
qua, has a drift of 2500 feet, out of which one hun- 
dred and fifty tons are daily taken. Vein F has a 
drift of 2500 feet, worked on the east ; veins E and 
F are worked by Messrs. J. & F. Carter. Vein F 
has a drift of 2500 feet, worked on the west side by 
J. Taggart. Vein E is at present worked on the west 
by the company. Veins A, B, and C, higher up the 
Tamaqua, have not been very extensively worked. 
Veins 0, P, Q and R, are south of the village ; Q is 
the only one worked south of the village — by Messrs. 



262 HISTORY OF SCHUYLKILL COUNTY. 

Anderson & Denniston on the east side of the river, 
on lands belonging to the Lehigh company — a three 
feet vein of red ash coal of excellent quality, on the 
east side of the river, on lands belonging to Mr. S. 
Laird & Co., by W. W. Cansled & Co. There is a 
railroad from Tamaqua to Port Clinton, over which 
the coal is transported, a distance of twenty miles. 
Seven coaches arrive at and depart from Tamaqua 
daily, making it quite a thoroughfare. 

The Schuylkill Company's works here are man- 
aged by enterprising gentlemen — Messrs. J. K. Smith 
and Wm. Donaldson. Mr. Smith is the patentee of 
the self-acting brake and door fastening, and various 
other improvements in the mining operations. 

Those who delight in mountain scenery, will be 
fully gratified in a ride on this railroad, which runs 
its whole distance by the side, or in the neighborhood 
of hills, lifting their tree-crowned summits high into 
the clouds. 

A continuation of this railroad from Tamaqua, to 
connect with the Quakake and Cattawissa railroad, 
has been projected, but never made. A stage road, 
connects Tamaqua with Mauch Chunk, Hazleton, 
and Pottsville, on each of which two lines run daily. 

Schuylkill township is one of the central town- 
ships of this county, and is bounded on the north- 
west by Union township ; north-east by Rush and 
West Penn; south by East Brunswick and West 
Brunswick; south-west by Manheim and Norwe- 
gian townships. It comprehends a rich section of the 
coal region, having within it the Sharp mountain, 
Mine hill, or Locust mountain, the Broad mountain, 
and the Mahonoy mountain, in all of which anthra- 
cite coal abounds ; it embraces the greater portion of 
the Schuylkill Valley Railroad, along which a vast 
number of mines have been opened. (See description 
below, of Schuylkill valley.) The Cattawissa creek 
crosses the northern section of the township, where it 
is navigable for canoes ; and the Great and Little Ma- 
honoy creeks cross it south-westwardly ; and south of 
the Sharp mountain, Tumbling creek flows in the 
same direction towards the Schuylkill, below Mount 
Carbon. It contains the villages of Middleport, Green- 



HISTORY OF SCHUYLKILL COUNTY. 263 

field, Louisburg, Patterson, Bell Forest, Five Point 
Mines, Cumbulla, New Philadelphia, &c. 

The roads from M'Keansburg to Cattawissa and 
Sunbury, pass through the township. The surface 
of the country is mountainous ; the soil chiefly of 
white gravel, alternating with red shale, and gener- 
ally sterile; a considerable portion of it is classed 
among " unseated lands." 

Louisburg, a small village, on the road from 
M'Keansburg to Cattawissa, about eight miles north- 
west of Orwigsburg. It consists of five or six dwell- 
ings, one tavern and a store. 

This township had, in 1840, two grist mills, nine 
saw mills and four stores. Population in 1820, 546 ; 
in 1830, 1,200; in 1S40, 1,334; at present, (1845,) 
rising 1,500. The Taxes assessed for 1844, amounted 
to, for county purposes, $1,877 00; state purposes, 
1^743 83. Taxes on unseated lands — county tax, 
i5l84 45 ; state tax, $73 76. 

Here is inserted a description of Schuylkill valley , 
&c., written twelve years ago, since which tirae, im- 
portant changes have been made. It is principally 
from Hazard's Register : 

" This valley is narrow, and lies between the Sharp 
mountain and Mine hill, and commencing near Potts- 
ville, runs eastwardly about thirteen miles. Both 
■sides of the valley abound with excellent anthracite 
coal. The river Schuylkill, which is here but a creek, 
has its course from its primal fountain, through this 
valley ; and the valuable mines are approached by 
the railroad that follows the banks, which are nearly 
parallel with the direction of the coal strata. Deep 
ravines extend from the road northward, to Mine hill, 
through which commonly, a small stream of water 
runs, cutting the veins transversely, so that they can 
be advantageously worked above the water level. 
Thus about two miles above Port Carbon, at the 
mouth of Zaehariah's run, are the " Five Point 
Mines/' which are very extensive, and produce first 



264 HISTORY OF SCHUYLKILL COUNTY. 

rate coal. Along the run a lateral railroad may be 
made communicating Avith many valuable coal beds. 
One mile above Bolton Curry's mine, is the " Bopp 
Tract^^ owned by Messrs. Hubley. Indian run di- 
vides this tract, along which a lateral road may be 
also made to mines of approved quality. The next, 
upon the river, is the " J?fj'r/o?y and Evans Tract,^' 
near the mouth of Silver creek, four miles above Port 
Carbon. This stream passes through Mine hill, and 
gives access to the large and valuable tracts of Messrs, 
Burd Patterson, Geissenheimer and others. On the 
Glenworth and Valley Furnace tracts, is another 
lateral road, a mile above which is another stream, 
running through the Valley Furnace property, up 
which a lateral road has also been made to some 
five mines. Above this lies Middleport, a new post 
town, at the confluence of the Kaskawilliam creek 
with the Schuylkill river. Up this stream, laterals 
have been made to the Mine hill, by the proprietors 
of the land known as the ^^ Jacob Slahl," " Olioger/' 
and " Bushey Tracts,^' on each of which, open- 
ings have been made into beds of coal of good quality. 
The next lateral road is up Laurel creek, to the De^ 
long collieries, owned by Mr. Lauton, and Blight, 
Wallace, & Co. One mile above this, is the town of 
Patterson, owned by Messrs, Burd Patterson, Swift 
& Porter. Big creek, which penetrates the Mine hill, 
and divides the coal strata advantageously, passes 
through this place. The river road and Mine hilly 
are much nearer to each other, than below, having 
gradually converged from a mile above Port Carbon. 
As the road follows the course of the river, at many 
of the bends it intersects the veins transversely, for 
they range invariably seventeen degrees north of east. 
This circumstance is Avorthy of notice, as it shows 
that the coal is by no means confined to the north 
side of the river ; and there are on the south side 
several fine tracts, as at Middleport, the valuable 
property of Messrs. Robb and David Winebrenner, 
of Philadelphia, known as the " Jacob Ladigj" and 



HITSORY OF SCHUYLKILL COUNTY. 265 

part of that owned by Messrs. Porter, Enierick, and 
Kom, called the " Hiester Tracts Next above Pat- 
terson, lies the " Peter Ladig TracV of Mr. Biddle, 
and the " Raber Tract,'''' owned by the same gentle- 
man, and Mr. Edwin Swift. These are rich in coal, 
and advantageously situated. Pebble run divides the 
strata finely for mining operations, about a mile and 
a half above Big creek. It passes over "i?«6er 
Tract'^ and divides Mine hill, here called " Locust 
nioiintain.^^ Next to the " Raber TracV is the 
" Tuscarora Tracf^ of Mr. William Lawton, Blight, 
Wallace & Co. — a large tract. The next tract above 
this, is also a large one, belonging to Joseph Lyons 
and Jacob Alter, The river rises from the springs 
of this tract, which divide the ground advantageously 
for mining. The veins which we have just noticed, 
are said to have four hundred breast above the water 
level." 

Union township is in the north-eastern part of the 
county, and is bounded as follows : On the north by 
Luzerne county ; south-east and south by Rush and 
Schuylkill townships ; west and north-west by Colum- 
bia county. This township is mostly covered with 
mountains, and high rugged hills ; and until late had 
been but little explored, except the southern portions 
of it. A considerable proportion of it is classed 
among unseated lands. It is but sparsely populated. 
In 1840, it contained 906 inhabitants. The county tax 
assessed in 1844, on real estate and personal property, 
amounted to $640 79 j for state purposes, ^308 85. 

Upper Mahantango township, a north-western 
township, is bounded on the north and north-west by 
Northumberland county ; east by Norwegian town- 
ship ; south by Barry and Lower Mahantango town- 
ships ; on the west by Dauphin county. The surface 
is hilly — it is a "congregation of hills;" having the 
Mahonoy mountain on the north, and Mahantango 
on the south. It is watered principally by two 



266 HISTORY OP SCHUYLKILL COUNTY. 

branches of the Mahantango creek, flowing west- 
wardly through it; after uniting, they flow onward 
for eighteen or twenty miles, into the Susquehanna 
river, about twenty-five miles above Harrisburg. The 
soil is red shale and white gravel ; the former is sus- 
ceptible of improvement ; but the latter requires more 
labor to be bestowed upon to make it yield, than will 
repay the husbandman. A portion of it is classed 
among " unseated lands." 

The population in 1820, was 863; in 1830, 1,150; 
in 1840, 1,291. The taxes assessed for 1844, were, 
for county purposes, ^1,194 22 ; state tax, $520 41 ; 
on unseated lands — county tax, S21 85; state tax, 
$8 75. In 1840, it contained eight grist mills, eight 
saw mills, five stores, and one distillery. 

Zimmermanstoivn, is a small cluster of houses in 
the northern part of the township. It contains a store 
and tavern. 

Wayne township is bounded on the north by 
Branch townsliip; east by Manheim township; south 
by Berks county ; and on the west by Pine Grove 
township. A great proportion of this township is 
mountainous and hilly; soil gravel, though considera- 
bly improved, it is watered by several small streams, 
tributaries of the Swatara creek and the Schuylkill 
river, affording mill seats for a number of grist mills 
and some twenty-five sawmills. Population in 1840, 
1,621. Taxes for 1844— county tax, $1,513 25 ; state 
tax, %%^S 47. Taxes on " unseated lands" — county 
tax, ^61 89; state tax, 824 82. 

Fricdenshurg, a post village, nine miles from Pine 
Grove, and five from Schuylkill Haven, consisting of 
some fifteen or eighteen dwellings, two taverns and 
one store. The surrounding country is pretty well 
improved. Agriculture receives considerable atten- 
tion. Lime, as a manure, is beginning to be used. Its 
application rewards the farmer amply. 

The few scattering inhabitants of this region of 



HISTORY OP SCHUYLKILL COUNTY. 267 

country in 1755 to 1763, were greatly alarmed on 
account of the numerous murders committd by the 
savage Indians. The greater part, or all, had fled 
from their plantations into the more southern parts of 
Berks county. In October, 1755, the Indians were 
traversing this region of country, and committed 
several murders under circumstances of much cruelty. 
Mr. W. Parsons addressed a letter to the Rev. Kintz, 
dated October, 1755, as follows: 

" This morning, very early, between four and five 
o'clock, Adam Rees, an inhabitant over the first 
mountain, about six miles from Lawrance Hant's 
house, who lives on this side of the mountain, came 
to my house, and declared that yesterday, between 
eleven and twelve o'clock, he heard three ^uns fired 
toward the plantation of his neighbor, Henry Hart- 
man, which made him suspect that something more 
than ordinary had happened there. Whereupon he 
took his gun and went over to Ilartman's house, be- 
ing about a quarter of a mile ofl*, and found bim lying 
dead upon his face ; his head was scalped ; but saw 
no body else. He made, thereupon, the best of his 
way through the woods, to the inhabitants on this 
side of the mountain, to inform them of what had 
happend."* 

In another letter to Adam Reed, Mr. Parsons says : 

Sir : — I wrote you yesterday, that I intended to be 
with you at the unhappy place, where Henry Hart- 
man was murdered, but when I got to the top of the 
mountain, I met some Inen, who said they had seen 
two men lying dead and scalped, in the Shamokin 
road, about two or three miles from the place where 
we were; wherefore, we altered our course, being 
twenty-six in number, and went to the place, and 
found the two men lying dead, about three hundred 
yards from each other, and all the skin scalped off 
their heads. 

, ^Provincial Records, N. p. 258. 



26S HISTORY OF SCHUYLKILL COUNTY. 

We got a grubbing hoe and spade, and dug a grave 
as well as we could, the ground being very stony, 
and buried them both in one grave, without taking 
ofl" their clothes or examining at all their wounds ; 
only we saw that a bullet had gone through the leg 
of one of them. I thought it best to bury them, to 
prevent their bodies from being torn to pieces by 
wild beasts. One of the men had a daughter with 
him that is yet missing; and the other man had a 
wife, and three or four children, that are also miss- 
ing. 

I shall be obliged to return home in a day or two, 
but hope to see you sometime about Christmas, and 
to find my unhappy countrymen somewhat relieved 
from this distressed condition. I can't help thinking 
that it would be well for a good number of the in- 
habitants to go next Monday, and help to bring the 
poor people's grain and corn to this side of the moun- 
tain — it will help to maintain them, wliich we must 
do, if they can't maintain themselves ; and 'tis very 
likely those barbarous Indians will set fire to, and 
burn aU, if it be not soon secured.* 

I am, Sir^ your very humble servant, 

WM. PARSONS. 

JVest Brunswick township is bounded on the north 
by Schuylkill township ; east by East Brunswick ; 
south by Berks county ; and west by Manheim town- 
ship. The surface is diversified ; mountainous, hilly, 
and a small portion of it is level. It has the Blue 
mountain on the south, and the Second mountain on 
the north ; and the intermediate portion is diversified 
by many hills, of which the Little mountain is a part. 
The soil is red shale and white gravel. All along the 
north side of the Blue mountain, is a belt of red shale, 
succeeded by a thin limestone formation. A con- 
siderable portion of which occurs near Orwigsburg. 
This township is pretty well watered. Pine creek is 

*Provincial Records, N. p. 258. 



HISTORY OP SCHUYLKILL COUNTY. 26^ 

the principal stream flowing through this township, 
in a south-western direction — it falls into the Schuyl- 
kill river six miles below Schuylkill Haven. There are 
several mills on it. There are still some lands in this 
township classed among "unseated lands." The 
taxes assessed in 1844, for county purposes, amounted 
to, exclusive of Orwigsburg, $1,434 33 ; for state pur- 
poses, 8626 28. Population in 1840, 1,701. Be- 
sides Orwigsburg, there are several small villages in 
the township. 

Orwigsburg, post town, borough and seat of jus- 
tice of Schuylkill county, stands on ti rising ground, 
near a small stream,* which flows into the Schuyl- 
kill river. It was laid out by Peter Orwig, in 1796, 
but was not much settled till after 1811, when 
Schuylkill county was separated irom Berlts, when it 
was made the county seat, and incorporated, March 
12th, 1813. 

The valley in which this town lies, is surrounded 
by lofty and beautiful hills, which admit of cultiva- 
tion to their very summits. The lands, though much 
broken, are well cultivated, and very productive. 
The town consists of about two hundred dwellings, 
many of which are three story, and of brick, con- 
venient and handsome. The court house and public 
oflices are of brick ; the former, a large substantial 
building, surmounted by a cupola, and the academy 
is a spacious building, also with a cupola. This insti- 
tution was incorporated in 1813, and received a dona- 
tion of $2,000 from the state ; four public schools. 
There are several fine churches here, viz : The 
Lutheran, which is a spacious building ; the German 
Reformed, the corner stone of which was laid, August 
2Sth, 1831, and the one held by the ''Church of 

♦Tradition has if, that at the junction of the little creek which 
runs around Orwigsburg with the Schuj-Jkill, was once a con- 
siderable Indian town, on or near Scollop Hill. The tuoael of the 
canal passes through this hill. 



270 HISTORY OF SCHUYLKILL COUNTY. 

God," and one by the Evangelical Association ; five 
stores, and four taverns, one printing office, issuing a 
weekly paper called Die Stimviedes Volks. The 
population of the town was, in 1820, 600 ; in 1830, 
773 ; in 1840, 779 ; at present (1844,) rising 800. 

The turnpike leading from Reading to Pottsville, 
on to Sunbury, passes through here. The town is 
twenty-six miles from Reading, and eight south-east 
of Pottsville. 

McKeansburg is a brisk post village, four miles 
north-east of Or wigsburg, contains about thirty dwell- 
ings, two stores and several taverns. 

Landisville^ on the Reading railroad, two miles 
from Orwigsburg, contains some thirty dwellings, 
two stores and two taverns, and public school houses. 

West Penn township is in the north-eastern part 
of the county, and is bounded on the north by Rush 
township ; north-east by Carbon county ; south-east 
by Lehigh county ; south and south-west by East 
Brunswick township. The surface is hilly, the soil 
gravelly, and naturally not very productive — rather 
sterile. A considerable proportion of the land is 
classed among "unseated lands." The Tamaqua, 
or Little Schuylkill river, drains it on the north-west, 
which rises in Rush township, and near the boundary 
of Northampton county, and at the foot of the Spring 
mountain, and by a devious, but southward course, 
joins the main stream or Schuylkill at Port Clinton, 
on the north side of the Kittatinny or Blue mountain, 
receiving many small tributaries. Along the valley 
of this stream is a railroad from Port Clinton to Ta- 
maqua, a post village in Rush township. Lizard 
creek and Mahoning creeks rise in this township, 
running eastwardly and emptying into the Lehigh 
river. These streams afford considerable water power. 
The coal hills of Mauch Chunk and Tuscarora moun- 
tains give it a high value. It abounds with anthracite 
coal. It contains several mills — a German Reform 
and Lutheran Church. 



HISTORY OF SCHUYLKILL COUNTY. 271 

The inhabitants of this township, on the southern 
border, were, in 1755-56, and later, much exposed 
to Indian depradations. [See East Brunswick town- 
ship.] The population of 1830, was 1,379 ; in 1840, 
1,230. Taxes assessed in 1844, for county purposes, 
5^1,074 63; state tax, ^456 63; on unseated lands, 
county tax, $204 41 ; state tax, $81 73. 

Norwegian toivnship is one of the norihern town- 
ships, and is bounded on the north by Broad moun- 
tain ; north-east by Schuylkill township ; south by 
Manheim ; south-west by Branch and Barry, and 
west by Upper Mahantango township. This town- 
ship, though covered with mountains and hills, and 
containing little arable land of good quality, is one of 
the most important ones in Schuylkill county, if not 
in the state, and has been the principal scene of won- 
drous improvements, of which Pottsville is the centre. 

The Sharp mountain, the southern boundary of 
the anthracite coal formation of Pennsylvania, forms 
its southern line, and the north is marked by Broad 
mountain. The main branch of the Schuylkill river 
enters it from the north-east, and receives Mill creek 
and two branches of the Norwegian creek. The 
West Branch, and the west-west branch of the 
Schuylkill, enter it from the north and west, all of 
which give ready access to the veins of coal, by the 
facilities which their valleys afford for the construction 
of railroads and penetration of the hills. The main 
river has two dams, with canals in the township ;* 
the first forms the basin at Momit Carbon and Potts- 
ville, and the other the basin at Port Carbon. A 
railroad follows the main stream from the latter place 
to its source — another on Mill creek, which extends 
about four miles, and a third on the two branches of 
the Norwegian. The latter is known as the Mount 
Carbon railroad. On the West, and West- West 

♦Hazard's Reg. of Pa. for 1831. 



272 HISTORY OF SCHUYLKILL COUNTY. 

Branch, a fourth railroad penetrates the Broad 
mountain. 

Tliere are several towns and villages in this town- 
ship, noticed below. 

PoTTSviLLE AND ViciNiTY. Before 1790, there 
were, comparatively speaking, lew settlers north of the 
Blue, or Kittatinny mountain, within the limits of 
Schuylkill county, except in the valley south of the 
Second mountain. About the year 1795, or '96, two 
individuals, Lewis Reese and Isaac Thomas, settled 
on the north of the well known " Schneid Berg^'' i. e. 
Sharp mountain, in the Schuylkill Gap. Having 
purchased a tract of land, and erected a small furnace, 
carrying it on for some time, they sold it in 1806, to 
John Pott, of District township, Berks county.* 

Mr. Pott tore down the furnace, and erected in its 
stead. Greenwood forge, the remains of which are still 
visible. In lS07,he built Greenwood furnace, which 
was successfully in operation till 1827, the time of 
John Pott's death ; then it passed into the hands of 
Benjamin Pott, son of the deceased, and since through 
several hands. That furnace is, however, no more. 
The Greenwood Basin occupies the site of the old 
furance. When Reese and Thomas erected the fur- 

*John Pott's father, W'dhelm Potf, came to America, in 1734. 
We find his name, among others, noticed in the following re- 
cords : 

Ai the court honse of Philadelphia, September 12th, 1734, 
present, the Honorable the Lieutenant Governor, the Mayor of the 
city, and others of the Magistracy — eighty-nine Palatines, who, 
■with their families, making in all two hundred and sixty-one 
persons, were imported here in the ship Saint Andrew, John 
Stedman, Master, from Rotterdam, but last from Plymouth, as by 
clearance from thence, this day took and subscribed the effectof 
the government oaths, and also the declaration prescribed by the 
order of council of the 21&t of September, 1727. 

On his arrival, Wilhelm Pott settled first at Germantown, then 
in Berks county, where John Polt was born. John married a 
Miss Lesher, of Oley, with whom he had several sons, viz: John, 
Benjamin, James, Abraham, William and Jacob; three of whom 
are still living : John, Benjamin and Abraham. 



HISTORY OF SCHUYLKILL COUNTY. 273 

'nace, they, as is common erected a number of small 
houses for " the hands at work," and were occupied 
by some eight or more families ; the heads of these 
were John Else, Henry Bolton, Daniel Focht, the 
clerk; Thomas Swayer, Anthony Schott, George 
Frievie and George Reimer ; these all lived at the 
furnace before Mr. Pott moved his family here ; he 
had erected all these tenant houses, before 1809. 

Besides Mr. Pott, the following were among the 
first, or pioneer settlers — Henry JMcClattery, and one 
Newschwander settled a short distance west of Pott's, 
at the place known as Mount Carbon. Michael 
Boechtel had settled on the farm now owned by 
Gary, Lee & Hart, of Philadelphia. About one-ha.f 
mile further west, lived Jacob Yoe. At the present 
site of Minersville, lived Thomas Reed and Isaac 
Reed. Three miles north of Pott's, John Boyer had 
settled, at the well known place called '^' Fioivhig 
Field ;" some four miles north of this lived the well 
known Nicho Allen, at the Big Spring on the summit 
of the Broad mountain. His residence was known as 
the " Black Cabin.'' Two miles north-east of Pott's, 
lived Peter Newschwander, John Hughs, Phihp Dil- 
comp, Solomon Reep, Jacob Reep, Peter Reep, Geo. 
Reep, Conrad Keim and John Keim. At the present 
Port Carbon, several families had settled; these were 
Mr. Stitzel, known in his day as '• £)er Zim'mernian^'' 
i. e., the carpenter ; Shadrack Lord, father of Mr. 
Lord at Bayhill. Shadrack had settled on Eagle hill. 
These families, with Mr. Pott, were the pioneer set- 
tlei-s of this portion of the anthracite region. 

Other than the natural increase of the population 
was slow — little or no accession prior to ISlOorlSlI. 
It was some eight or ten years after the discovery of 
coal, before this place attracted much attention. The 
first coal discovered here, was, according to the state- 
ment of Abraham Pott, son of John, in 1 807,* when 

* On examining a copy of Scull's Map of the Province of 
Pennsylvania, published in 1770, I sec " cW /nar/v-" north of the 

R 



274 HISTORY OF SCHUYLKILL COUNTY. 

the foundation for Greenwood furnace Avas dug, in 
digging which, a vein of coal was found; and in dig- 
ging the foundation of Pott's grist mill, in 1810, a- 
vein of nine feet thick was struck, and now success- 
fully worked by Mr. Joseph Beddle ; but its use and 
value was not then known and fully appreciated. 
After the indefatigable efforts of Doctor McFarland, 
a scientific gentleman, to bring the coal here intO' 
notice, who had opened a vein on the " York Farm," 
in 1814, ten miles west of Greenwood furnace, and 
the laying out of Pottsville, by John Pott, in 1816, 
this place increased rapidly, and soon a considerable 
town grew up in the forest. The ground or town 
plot was surveyed and laid off for the proprietor, by 
Henry Donnell, who was also among the first to erect 
a house. William Casley, Joseph Leckey and Geo. 
Dengler also, each of them, put up dwellings here^ 
shortly after Pottsville was laid out. 

About this time, or shortly afterwards, in 1818, 
Mr. Jacob Reed opened a vein of coals at Miners- 
ville. From this time onward speculators, and a 
consequent tide of immigration, tended to this region 
of country. Pottsville formed the nucleus of a dense 
settlement — " an oppidan settlement," for it is sur- 
rounded by towns, hamlets and villages. 

John Pott, son of John Pott, deceased, erected a 
distillery about the year 1819. Lewis Ebert built a 
house the same year. From 1820 to 1824, a num- 
ber of persons settled here ; among others of enter- 
prize, was Col. George Shoemaker, who had, as early 
as 1813, opened the Spohu vein of coal, began to 
])uild in Pottsville. From 1824, the growth of the 
town was rapid, and the improvements in the vicinity 
correspondent with the town — ^JDotli unprecedented in 
the history of the country; for, in 1822, the house ,. 

Tuscarora mountain, or north-east of Reed's, not many miles 
from the Schuylkill Gap, within the then limits or bounds of 
Berks county. See also the First Annual Report of the Coal 
Mininir Assodatio7i of Schuylkill County, in subsequent page, 
Cliap.^III. 



HISTORV OP SCHUYLKILL COUNTY. 275 

Since known as the IVfiite Horse tavern, was kept by- 
Mr. John Pott, the proprietor, and who owned land 
in the vicinity, as a sort of watering place for the 
stages on the Sunbury road. In 1824, we hear of 
five scattered dwellings in the vicinity. The causes 
which led to the influx of miners and speculators 
about the year 1825, have been stated above — the 
town was soon laid out — or rather several towns 
were started — for each prominent adventurer had his 
favorite location, and as each successive arrival of 
greedy adventurers tended to fan the flame of specu- 
lation, town lots and coal tracts (some with coal, and 
many whose coal was but imaginary,) doubled, 
tribled and quadrupled in value, and passed from 
hand to hand like currency. Houses were rapidly- 
constructed to accommodate the immense crowds that 
came to search for lots and lands, and in 1828, we 
hear of several excellent stone houses and stores, 
others of brick and frame, a weekly newspaper — The 
Miners^ Journal — a reading room, hotels,&c. Messrs. 
.John and Benjamin Pott had, as said above, erected 
Greenwood furnace and forge, and were making iron 
from ore obtained below the Blue mountain. The 
next year, Clinton Row, ox Mahantango street, and 
another row of houses, were erected ; and such was 
the activity in building, that it became necessary to 
send to Philadelphia for lumber, to use in a region that 
hitherto had exported little else than lumber and coal. 
A daily stage to Philadelphia was also established in 
that year, and a trip of fourteen hours was cracked 
up as something remarkable. A dozen little towns 
had already risen around Pottsville. Railroads also 
began to be introduced, imparting a new impetus to 
the coal trade. The Schuylkill valley, the Mill creek, 
and the Mount Carbon railroads were started in that 
year. 

The following extracts from the Miners' Journal 
for 1829, will afford an idea of the rapid rise of coal 
lands : " Five years ago the Peacock trade of coal 



276 HISTORY OF SCHUYLKILL COUNTY. 

land, belonging to the New York and Schuylkill Coal 
Company, was purchased by them for the sum of 
^9,000. Last week it was sold, and bought in by 
the original seller, for the sum of $42,000. The 
present owner, we understand, would not dispose of 
it for $70,000." 

The following shows the condition of Pottsville, in 
1830 : 

'' We are," says the editor of the Miners^ Journal, 
" sadly in want of mechanics here. A half a dozen 
good master blacksmiths, with three or more journey- 
men each, would find plenty of bi\siness. The horse 
shoeing custom is immense. A regiment of carpen- 
ters, bricklayers, and stone masons, with a strong de- 
tachment of sober laborers, would find employment. 
House painters, who understand mixing paints and 
using them without daubing the floors, are very rare 
among us. Our town supports two paper hangers 
handsomely ; thirty-one cents a piece for hanging 
paper is too much — a little competition will regulate 
this branch. A wheelwright, a cabinet-maker, and a 
pump-borer, might crowd in amongst us to advantage. 
A good barber shop, we have not got. Our barbers 
are all stationed in the bar rooms of the taverns, for 
want of room elsewhere ; the accommodations are 
consequently very inferior. Our borough would sup- 
port a tobacco spinner, and a good cigar maker. We 
see no reason why a pottery would not succeed ; the 
raw material is abundant in the neighborhood. A 
few tanners in the suburbs would find plenty of hides, 
which, for want of sale, are hung up vmder our noses, 
this hot weather, spreading pestilence around, and de- 
stroying the comfort of all the families within reach 
of their effluvia. We are glad to hear that a fine was 
inflicted lately on a person for the filthy practice allu- 
ded to. A few more clean butchers, who would 
slaughter out of town, and deliver their meat to tlu 
citizens with a pleasant countenance, would be more 
popular. 



HISTORY OF SCHUYLKILL COUNTY. 2/7 

•' We really want a good clean bakery of bread 
and crackers, and half a dozen of huckster's shops. 
We have no ice houses, and no milkman yet ; both 
are very much wanted. About a thimble full of 
milk for a cent may be had some times, after a real 
hunt through the lanes and alleys — nor can it always 
be called water poof. And if we may judge from 
the quantity of rum consumed, we may venture to 
hold out flattering hopes to a distiller. He can lay 
up a good store of grain in winter, for much of which 
he might barter his liquors; he cannot fatten too 
many swine on the malt for this market. A rope 
walk ought to succeed. An eating house on the 
plan of the New York Fulton Market shops, would 
be exactly adapted to tliis place Our hotels charge 
thirty-seven and a half to fifty cents a meal, and sleep 
often on the floor — a genteel oyster house would hit 
it exactly. A large hat store, with a manufactory of 
the article attached, is much wanted ; you cannot buy 
a hat now without going to a grocery or liquor store 
for it. A tasty fruit, confectionery and mineral wa- 
water establishment, would be well patronized. More 
dry good and grocery stores are wanted. It is high 
time that the union of all kinds of goods and wares, 
wet, dry, soft, hard, and grocery, in one room, was 
abolished. A snug grocery and liquor store has 
lately been opened here, which is doing an elegant 
business. A dry good store is found to answer very 
well. Two hardware stores are doing very well. A 
new apothecary store, and one established last fall, 
(1829) are flourishing. Goods of aU kinds sell enor- 
mously high, for want of competition. Owing to the 
scarcity of houses, the business is in the hands of a 
favored few. We see no reason why a snug fancy 
store would not do business. But we are certain 
there would be no mistake in a good millinery, man- 
tua-making and sewing establishment. A lady can 
get nothing in the line of the former two, under a long 
notice, and the young men don't know where to get 
their linnen made up. A good saddlery would do, 



278 HISTORY OF SCHUTLKILL COUNTY. 

A bath house, well kept, with apartments for both 
sexes, would not fail to receive extensive patronage 
in our alternately dusty and muddy borough. About 
twenty women, who would hire out to wash clothes, 
scrub houses, &c., might earn their fifty cents a day, 
and find ample employment. A hundred good ser- 
vant girls, who know how to stay at a good place 
when procured, would make their dollar a week. 
We need hardly say that more boarding houses 
are wanted, especially for the middling classes of 
persons. There are at present three large buildings 
in progress for the accommodation of the first class, 
which, when finished, will help to thin the floors of our 
hotels, which are frequently covered at night witli per- 
sons who cannot find beds. Competition in tavern- 
keeping would be as salutary as it would be novel in 
this town. 

"Having given a hasty hit of our wants, it just 
occurs to us, that were these persons to come here 
en inasse, they would be in a great predicament for 
houses, wherein to put their families, and pursue their 
different avocations. Those who are here can hardly 
live for want of room. For our part, being in the 
building line, we are daily, indeed almost hourly, 
beset with applications for houses to rent. No capi- 
talists could hit upon a better investment than in 
building blocks of snug substantial houses for trades- 
men and mechanics. They would not pay less than 
twelve per cent, per annum — the present scarcity has 
raised rents fifteen to twenty per cent. 

" It would," continues the editor, "be a great bles- 
sing if about fifty industrious farmers from the lower 
counties, (who at the end of a hardy year's labor 
cannot lay by six pence,) would come up here and 
purchase some of the uncultivated land along the 
Mahonoy river, ten or fifteen miles from Pottsville, 
where the bottom land is rich loam, and the ridge 
strong red shale, and susceptible of the highest state 
of cultivation. The brightest success would smile 



HISTORY OF SCHUYLKILL COUNTY. 279 

lapon their enterprize. Many a fortune is waiting to 
be ploiiglied up by some favored farmer in the few 
fertile valleys within marketing distance from this 
town. 

"We do not think that we overstep the bounds of 
truth, when we assert that Pottsville is the best 
market in the State. By way of exercising your 
own judgment, take a glance at our prices current. 
Hay, twenty-five dollars a ton, scarce, and quality too 
often inferior ; straw, twenty cents a bundle, scarce, 
and bundles about half the weight usual in other 
places ; flour, five dollars seventy-five cents a barrel, 
scarce, and as we have no inspector, the quality is 
often very inferior ; oats, forty cents a bushel ; rye, 
sixty cents ; potatoes, seventy-five cents a bushel ; 
fresh butter, sixteen cents a pound, always very scarce; 
any kind of grease, resembling butter, commands 
twelve and a-half cents; eggs, twelve and a-half cents; 
fowls, forty cents a pair, scarce ; apples, as big as a 
hazlenut, eagerly carried off at a cent a piece ; garden 
stuffs bring any price your conscience permits you to 
ask ; cattle of all kinds, from the ox to the sheep, com- 
mand at least as high a price as in Philadelphia; 
milk, a thimble full for a cent, scarce ; cream, so 
rarely seen that no price can be affixed. 

"All other things in the farmer's line will be found 
proportionate. Manure can be had in abundance for 
a trifle ; almost for the hauling away. Let any enter- 
prizing farmer take a trip this way, and satisfy himself 
of the correctness of these representations ; and when 
he finds that land, susceptible of good cultivation, can 
be bought for ten dollars an acre, on a good stream 
ten or fifteen miles from such a market, he will not 
hesitate a moment to make such a determination as 
will add to our comfort, and ensure to himself an 
accession of wealth, and the real independence which 
an industrious farmer ought to enjoy." 

In 1831, the number of buildings had increased 
to five hundred and thirty-five, of which there were 



^80 HISTORY OF SCHUYLKILL COUNTY. 

Sixty-two of brick, and sixty-eight of stone ; together 
with an Episcopal church, a meeting house, and a 
beautiful structure for the Miners' Bank, of which 
the front is of cast iron ; and the commodious hotels 
of Mr. Seitzinger and Colonel Shoemaker. There 
were also seventy stores, richly stocked, among which 
were those of two booksellers and stationers, and of 
tailors, milliners, and dress-makers. And they boast- 
ed too, of a circulating library, and Exchange Read- 
mg Rooms ; two. newspapers, and a seminary. 

For any one from Cape Cod ta New Orleans, to 
say that he had not heard of the renowned town of 
Pottsville, would sound as- marvellous as if an Arabian 
were to declare that he had never heard of Mahomet^ 
or Mecca, of Kanba, or of the Holy Well. There is 
scarcely a valley, however remote or cut oif from the 
rest of the world, from Eastport to the Sabine, or 
from Cape Hatteras to Little Rock, that has not heard 
of the fame of Pottsville. Here, half a dozen sum- 
mers sinc-e, there was not more than one shabby log 
hut standing, and the wild scenery of the spot where 
are now to be seen so much enterprize, activity and 
bustle, lay undisturbed in all its primitive grandeur 
and loveliness. The road to Sunbury, over the Broad 
mountain, ran through it, and the weekly stage, in 
all its course from Philadelphia to the place of its 
destination, did not witness a wilder or more desolate 
scene. 

Here and there smoke might indeed be seen 
curling from some German'^s cottage, and waving 
in graceful folds above the trees, showing that man 
had dared to invade the forest ; but these instances 
were few and far between ; and the bear, the deer, 
and the fox, divided the empire of the woods among 
them. But now what a contrast ! The genius of 
man has seldom raised such a monument to his own. 
powers. The town of Pottsville — for imder that name 
we shall include Mount Carbon and Port Carbon, for 
they are three in one — eontaining upwards of foui 
tliousand people> besides the hordes qI Tartar look- 



HISTORY OF SCHUYLKILL COUNTY. 281 

iiig population hovering on its skirts. Many of the 
latter cohabit together in shantees or tents made of 
hemlock, and covered with branches. They are all 
engaged in the laudable business of " penetrating the 
bowels of the earth." But mark, gentle reader, and 
inwardly digest, when you hear that from this port, 
which is more than a hundred miles above tide water, 
there is a fleet of upwards of four hundred vessels — 
a fleet more formidable than that which bore the 
Greeks to the Trojan war, and composed of vessels, 
the smallest of which is almost as large as that in 
which Columbus ventured to cross an unknown ocean. 
In the first week of October last, seventy-eiglit ves- 
sels cleared from Pottsville, carrying to the sea-board 
the rich mineral treasures of this district, and during 
the same period, twenty-two arrived from Philadel- 
phia, laden with the luxuries of every clime. 

The siti^ation of the town is remarkable, being em- 
bosomed in lofty hills. vSharp mountain in front 
(south) of it, presents a surly and almost savage 
aspect, heightened by the almost black, dismal cav- 
erns excavated from its side, and looking like entrances 
to the abode of Pluto ; and the Norwegian, covered 
with coal dust and sluggishly moving on, is no bad 
type of Styx. The feeling produced on visiting Potts- 
ville, is, that it is no place for trifling, for every one 
wears a look of importance, and is plainly intent or^, 
playing his cards, so as not to lose a trick. A strong 
inclination is felt by the spectator to join in and take 
a hand. The interest of the game has overcome the 
scruples of many devout people ; for you may see 
the grave Quaker, the ejaculatnig Methodist, and the 
sober Presbyterian, sitthig at the same table, and using 
all their ingenuity to get the odd trick ; but what is 
most surprising, is that they all appear to get good 
cards, and are perfectly satisfied with the result of 
tlie game. 

It is curious to observe the motly mixture of peo- 
ple of all climes and complexion, that have came to 



282 HISTORY OP SCHUYLKILL COUNTY. 

worship here. Then you may see the pale citizen, 
who has been engaged all his life in measuring goods 
behind the counter, and who has never before been 
out of the sight of the smoke of his own chimney, 
until he was tempted to go in quest of the golden 
fleece in the form of coal, in consultation deep with 
a hardy, florid countenance, and you may perceive 
from their eager looks and animated gestures, that a 
spec of some magnitude is afloat. 

Then again may be seen the German, whose 
ancestors came to kindly Pennsylvania nearly two 
centuries ago, a period, as historians tell us, more 
than sufficient to blend two hostile races ; and here he 
is, the same in dress, language, manners and hoary 
prejudice, as when the first of his name left Rotter- 
dam. There he stands, with the title deed of his farm 
in his hand, and surrounded by a half a dozen of 
sharp looking fellows, who are trying by words and 
signs to close a bargain with bini — but he is keeping 
them at bay, as a good stout bull-dog would a parcel 
of curs, though he seems at the same time to be afraid 
of being bit, 

* No town of its size is so well supplied with every 
essential of luxury and convenience. Of attorneys, 
there are plentj?-, of the first repute, and with enough 
of activity to prevent the people from stagnating for 
■want of excitement. And there are agents, who will 
gladly execute any commission, from one to ten thou- 
sand dollars. Fancy stores, well supplied with rib- 
bands and artificial flowers. A perfumer advertises all 
sorts of cosmetics, and a Yankee school master for 
scholars. Doctors are there too, fresh from college, 
and shining with the reflected science of Physic and 
Chopman. There is a ball-room, a church, and sev- 
eral excellent hotels and boarding houses, and the 
newspaper is one of the best conducted journals in 
the country. Two daily lines of stages run from 
Philadelphia — Reeside against Coleman — and they 
merit a eulogium for the vigor with which they crack 



HISTORY OP SCHUYLKILL COUNTY. 283 

their whips, the matchless fury of their driving, and 
for their exquisite skill in upsetting. Pottsville has 
every requisite for becoming a great city — an unin- 
terrupted navigation by the canal to Philadelphia, 
coal enough to supply the world for thousands of 
years; and if the resources of the country should be 
developed with the same untiring activity by the next, 
as it has been by the present generation, Pottsville, 
bold as the assertion may seem, will rival the large 
cities of the sea-board in population and wealth. 

A writer in the Pottsville Advocate, early in 1831, 
thus speaks of the place : 

" The town of Pottsville, by the late census, con- 
tains upwards of 2,500 inhabitants. The fluctuating 
population having withdrawn, there may be a trifling 
decrease ; for, at the time when the census was taken, 
we were thronged with strangers, drawn to the place 
by the ill-advised and premature uproar so foolishly 
raised about it. That, however, fortunately, did no 
essential harm, and is an earnest that, for the future, 
it is not even in the power of our friends to injure us. 
We have now seventy stores, of various kinds, richly 
stocked, many of them rivalling those of Philadelphia 
in appearance. 

" Since last spring, about fifty new brick buildings 
have been erected in the town, more than half of 
which are large three story houses. Among these are 
the uniform stores erected by James Appleton, at the 
upper part of Centre street, Jacob Alter has also 
erected three handsome stores, in the neighborhood 
of the Arcade. 

" Nor are our private houses less creditable to us 
than our public improvements. Among those which 
have lately been completed, we would mention Fran- 
cis B. Nichols' and Abraham Pott's, on Market street; 
J. Sanderson's, Burd Patterson's, on Mahantango 
street ; J. C. Otferman's, on Centre street ; and many 
others less remarkable ; but imparting an air of neat- 
ness and comfort not often seen in towns of such rapid 



284 HISTORY OF SCHUYLKILL COUNTY. 

growth. In the lower part of the town, we have 
Thomas Ridgeway's, and several others, comprising 
part of what is usually called Morrisville, which, with 
Mount Carbon, forms a striking entrance to the town 
from the south. 

"We must not omit to mention M. B. Buckley's 
beautiful addition to Pottsville, distinguished by the 
name of Greenwood, occupying a point remarkable for 
its beauty, and the varied scenery which it commands. 
Among the improvements, we remark a large stone 
hotel, and a row of handsome stone houses. In the 
rear, on the river road to Port Carbon, there is a large 
brewery, in full operation, established',by A. Y. Moore, 
enabling us to boast of beer fully equal to that of 
Philadelphia. 

"Adjoining Morrisville, as we remarked above, 
stands Mount Carbon, which, under the fostering care 
of John White, now fully equals any part of the 
town in appearance. During the past season, many 
valuable additions have been completed ; particularly 
a hotel, which would do credit to a city, and a row 
of stores. The Norwegian railroad terminates here. 

" Mount Carbon comprises the southern extremity 
of Pottsville. It stands on the Schuylkill, at the foot 
of the Sharp mountain, lying in the valley between 
that and Second mountain. Its situation is romantic ; 
the abrupt hills, rising almost perpendicularly around, 
are strikingly grand ; while the Schuylkill, winding 
through the gorges of the mountain, completes a 
scene of picturesque beauty unsurpassed by the points 
in whose praise our northern tourists are so fluent. 
Sharp mountain itself is a remarkable natural curi- 
osity, resembling a rampart-boundary to the coal 
region on the south. 

" The original town of Mount Carbon received 
considerable additions during the last year. Since 
the closing of navigation, the lock at the mouth of the 
canal has been renewed, vmder the superintendence 
of Mr. Mills, the agent for the canal company. In 



HISTORY OP SCHUYLKILL COUNTY. 285 

the pool above, are the docks of Messrs. Elmaker, 
Audenreid, and White & Coombe, who have two 
docks at the rear of their store houses, each twenty- 
eight feet wide, and in length one is one hundred, and 
the other one hundred and fifty feet. Beyond are 
Mr. Eldridge's landings, adjoining the range now con- 
structing for JVIessrs. Thouron and Macgregor. On 
the opposite side, lie the boat yards of Mr. Shelly, and 
the extensive landings of the North American Compa- 
ny. Again on the left are Mr. S. J. Pott's wharves ; 
those of Messrs. Morris ; and Mr. C. Storer's boat 
yard, on which Ave perceive he is erecting a scrcAv 
dock. The latter lie at the foot of Morrisville. 

" The pool below the bridge alTords wharves to the 
store houses of Messrs. Moore & Graham, Nathans, 
Thurston, and others. Several new landings are here 
constructing, the margin of the river presenting every 
facility for works of this nature. The principal build- 
ings lately erected are a range of stone stores and 
dwelling houses, the hotel on Centre street ; on 
Market street, six stone and twelve frame buildings. 
The hotel is a beautiful edifice of stone, forty-five 
feet wide by eighty-two, exclusive of the piazza, 
which presents a promenade to each story, embracing 
a view of the mountainous scenery around. These 
improvements are owing to the enterprizing spirit of 
Messrs. White and Coombe, 

"The Mount Carbon railroad, projected as an out- 
let for the rich coal formations of the Norwegian 
creek valleys, was commenced in Oct. 1829, under 
the superintendence of William R. Hopkins, chief- 
engineer, and John White, president. At the termi- 
nation the road is elevated upon 31 piers of masonry, 
erected upon the landings ; thence it passes through 
the gap of Sharp mountain, across the landings be- 
fore mentioned, following the valley of the Schuyl- 
kill to Morrisville. At this point we have, on the 
left, Messrs. Morris' mines, and on the apposite side 
of the river, on the Lippincott and Richards tract. 



266 HISTORY OF SCHUYLKILL COUNTF. 

the mines now worked by Mr. Baraclough. The 
road here leaves the Schuylkill, at its junction with 
the Norwegian creek, stretching up the valley of the 
latter, parallel with the Greenwood improvements, 
directly through Pottsville, to the forks : a distance 
of 6,208 feet from the piers. Below this are the 
mines now working by Mr, M'Kechney, and several 
openings on land belonging to D. J. Rhoads, Esq. 

"On the last branch, which is 14,200 feet in length, 
the first lateral above the forks belongs to the North 
American Co., and leads to their Centreville collieries, 
where they have twelve openings, upon the celebra- 
ted Lewis and Spohn veins. This coal is in high 
estimation, and has greatly aided in establishing the 
reputation of Schuylkill county coal, in the eastern 
markets. Beyond this, the road passes through Ben- 
jamin Pott's lands, and again strikes the Spohn vein 
at the east mines of the North American Co. The 
Hillsborough tract comes next, on the right, on which 
are several openings. Here we diverge to the left, 
through the celebrated Peach mountain tract, belong- 
ing to J. White, and pass five openings made by him. 
Next the Rose hill tract, owned by L. EUmaker : on 
these lands are several mines, leased by the Messrs. 
Warner, Wade, and others, near the town of Wades- 
ville : a thriving little place, laid out by Mr. Ell- 
maker. Above the town, the lateral road from Capt. 
Wade's mine comes down. The east branch termi- 
nates upon the Flowery field tract, belonging to 
Messrs. Bonsall, Wetherill, and Cummings. This 
land has been extensivel}'- worked by various indi- 
viduals. 

"The West Branch commences at Marysville, on 
the Oak hill tract, and is 16,400 feet in length. On 
this estate are the mines leased by Messrs. Smith, 
Hart, Maxwell, Wade, Hall, Dennis, Gallagher, and 
Martin. Among those are the celebrated Diamond 
and Oak hill veins. We must not omit the hotel 
kept here, by Mr. B. Gallagher, at a convenient dis- 



HISTORY OP SCHUYLKILL COUNTY. 2S7 

tance from Pottsville for an excursion. Below Oak 
hill are the Green park and Clinton tracts ; the former 
belonging to John White, and the latter to Mrs. 
Spohn, At Green park there is one opening under 
the superintendence of Mr. James Dill. Adjoining 
this is the Belmont estate — also John White's, Next 
the Thouron tract, a portion of which has been pur- 
chased by Benj. Pott; the Spohn vein passing through 
it. Contiguous are the Spohn, Lewis, and Duncan 
estates. The railroad here passes B. Pott's saw-mill, 
and extends in a perfectly straight line, a mile in 
length, nearly to the junction with the main road." 

Since the above extract was published, now fifteen 
years, many important changes have taken place. 
Old mines have been exhausted or abandoned, and new 
ones opened ; a great number of new railroads have 
been constructed ; several mines have been explored, 
and pofitably worked, below the water level. The 
geology of the region has been fully explored ; Potts- 
ville, Reading, and Philadelphia railroad has been 
opened, in 1842, affording daily communication in 
seven hours to Philadelphia, and promising to effect a 
complete revolution in the transportation of coal : the 
speculations of 1836, have expanded and exploded, 
Pottsville has increased its population from 2,424, in 
1830, and 3,117 in 1835, to 4,345, in 1840; and is 
now a compact, bustling place. Its trade, no longer 
driven back and forth by the tide of speculation, haa 
settled, or is settling, into a steady channel, well un- 
derstood, and well managed by capitalists, merchant? 
and miners. The town now contains a handsome Epis- 
copal church, and a splendid new Catholic cathedral, 
both in the Gothic style ; a German Catholic church, 
and neat edifices for the Presbyterian, German Re- 
formed and Lutheran, Episcopal Methodist, W^elsh 
Methodist, Universalists, Welsh Baptist, Welsh Pres- 
byterians, Welsh Calvinists, Quakers, and an African : 
in all, 14 churches; two academies, a number of public 
schools, a spacious town hall ; a splendid hotel, called 



"2S8 HISTORY OF SCHUYLKILL COUNTY. 

Pennsylvania Hall, and several other spacious hotels; 
a furnace, at which iron has been successfully made 
with anthracite coal ; a forge and rolling mill ; several 
large foundries, steam engine factories and machine 
shops, &c. The Greenwood furnace lately repaired, 
and under the superintendence of Dr. Palmer, & Co., 
is now in successful operation. 

Messrs. Haywood & Snyder's foundry, machine 
shop, &c., was erected in 1834 — is avery extensive 
establishment. The Pottsville Iron foundry and 
machine shop, owned and carried on by E. W. 
McGinnis, employs constantly from fifty to sixty 
hands. Farrell's foundery, was started a few years 
ago — gives employment to some six or eight hands. 
These several foundries manufacture annually articles 
to the amount of ^140,000. 

Clemen's steam mill has been in operation since 
1836. There is an extensive board yard here, several 
breweries, and scores of stores, groceries, shops, &c., 
&:c. 

There are four weekly newspapers published, and 
ably conducted, viz : " The Miners' Journal," edited 
by Benjamin Bannan, Esq. ; " The Pottsville Empo- 
rium," by E. 0. Jackson, Esq. ; " The Anthracite 
Gazette," by Messrs. Wynkoop & Kershner, Esqrs. ; 
and one, a German paper, ^'^ Die Freiheist Presse.^' 

The Danville and Pottsville railroad, designed to 
connect the Schuylkill Navigation, at Pottsville, with 
the Susquehanna at Danville and Sunbury, was pro- 
jected in 1826, and was completed in 1834 as far as 
Girardville, a small hamlet of three or four houses, 
ten miles north of Potlsville. Sixteen miles are also 
completed on the Sunbury end. The death of its 
chief patrons, the late Stephen Girard, and Gen. 
Daniel Montgomery, of Danville, with whom the pro- 
ject originated, has retarded the progress of the work. 
On the ten miles near Pottsville, a tunnel of 700 feet 
long, and four inclined planes, have been constructed 
at an enormous expense; but the tunnel 3,500 feet 



HISTORY OF SCHUYLKILL COUNTY. 289 

k)ng, into the Girard coal mines, on Mahonoy, is but 
partially completed. Until this is done, this part of 
tlie road cannot be profitably used, and the super- 
structure is now rotting in the sun. 

As the mines in favorable situations, above water 
level, become exhausted, it is necessary either to seek 
new ones at a greater distance, and an increased cost 
of transportation, or to dive deeper into the bowels of 
the earth. The latter course has been adopted in 
several valuable mines, about Potts ville, by Mr. 
Charles Lawton, Messrs. Pott and Bannan, Mr. 
Charles EUet, the Delaware Coal Company, Milne 
and Haywood, and Mr. George H. Pott, and others, 
Mr. Lawton is undermining the very town of Potts- 
ville itself. These veins are inclined at an inclination 
of about forty degrees. A wide shaft, or descending 
passage, is first sunk, at the inclination of the vein, 
wide enough for a double track railroad, upon which 
tlie loaded cars are hauled to the top of the mine. 
The Miners' Journal says, in 1842 : 

" The colUery of Pott and Bannan is of the most 
interesting of the kind in the region, and will well 
repay the trouble, and we might add the fatigues, of 
a visit. The colliery is better known as the Guinea 
hill, or Black mine, and is one of the deepest in our 
coal basin. The depth of the slope is 400 feet, which, 
at the inclination of forty degrees, would give a per- 
pendicular depth of 252 feet into the very bowels of the 
earth. The pitch of the vein, as soon as it loses the 
influence of the hill, is very regular, and the coal be- 
comes of a purer and better quality, and is found in 
grc^.ater masses between the slates. The colliery is 
worked with two steam engines — one of fifty horse 
power, and the other of twenty. The former is used 
in pumping the water which accumulates in the 
mines, and the latier in hoisting the coal in cars to the 
mouth of the slope. The pump used in the colliery 
is of cast iron, twelve inches in diameter, and extends 
tlie entire depth of the slope — 400 feet. The column 
S 



■190 HISTORY OP SCHUYLKILL COUNTY. 

of water brought up by the engine, at each Hft of the 
pump, is equal in weight to about eight tons and a 
half. 

" At the depth of 200 feet of this slope, a tunnel has- 
been driven ninety yards south to the Tunnel vein, and 
70 yards north to the Lawton vein — both through 
solid rock; which enables the proprietors to work three 
veins, with the present engines and fixtures. As the 
visitor leaves the slope, and finds himself, lantern in 
hand, groping his way through the gangway into the 
heart of the mine, he is half bewildered and startled, 
as the almost indistinct masses of coal, slate, dirt, &c., 
fashion themselves into something bordering upon a 
dark, dusky, and even forbidding outline. It seems 
as if you had fallen upon a subterranean city, buried 
by some great convulsion of nature ; and the illusion 
IS still further heightened by observing workmen 
busily engaged, apparently in excavating the ruins. 
Or, if you are highly imaginative, and have read the 
Odyssey, you might readily fancy the feelings of 
Ulysses, that " god-like and much-enduring man," 
when he paid a visit to tlie infernal shades, for the 
purpose of ascertaining the shortest and most direct 
cut to his beloved Ithaca. Homer, liowever, does 
not inform us whether or not the shades carried lamps 
in their caps, without which the pick would be of lit- 
tle use to our miners." 

* 

On several occasions Pottsville sustained injury 
from freshets — in October, 1831, and January, 1841. 
The following from the Miner's Journal gives an ac- 
count of these freshets : 

" Since the recollection of our oldest inhabitants, this 
portion of the country lias not been visited by so con- 
siderable a freshet as was witnessed in the early part 
of the week. It is not less remarkable that the loss 
of property sustained by this accumulation of waters, 
has proved, so far as is ascertained, entirely dispro- 
portioned to the general apprehension — another proof 



HISTORY OF SCHUYLKILL COUNTY. 291 

of the pervading strength and solidity of the resiiUs of 
enterprize. The rain has fallen copiously during 
several nights preceding Tuesday, on which day it 
subsided, exliibiting in its effects in the accumulated 
torrents which rolled down the declivities of our 
mountains. Many of the low grounds were involved 
in inundation, 

" The Schuylkill rose to an unusual height. A por- 
tion of the main high way, near Maj. Kepner^s, was 
overflown ; travelling in carriages was checked, and 
the mail from that point, was carried to our borough 
on horse-back. The Schuylkill navigation dam, in 
this vicinity, received some damage, which was 
speedily repaired. Several coal wharves at Port 
Carbon were someAvhat injured, by the removal of a 
part of the structure supporting them. Several boats 
were swept away. Mr. Crawley^ the owner, with 
difficulty preserved his dweUing house, by erecting in 
front a strong stone barrier four feet in height, from 
the devouring flood. His barn, however, was carried 
away. 

''The destruction of property has (January, 1841,) 
been considerable, by filling up the cellars, &c., in this 
borough, which in some instances was so sudden that 
the merchants had no time to remove their goods. 
Our friends in Coal street had their communication 
with the rest of the town, completely cut oft', by the 
water in the Norwegian, which completely inundated 
all the houses bordering on the stream. Part of the 
embankment of the Greenwood canal has been swept 
away, below the aqueduct — and the houses on the 
Island were all completely surrounded with water. 
The families from some were carried out when the 
water was middle deep. The water completely sur- 
rounded Clemen's & Parvin's steam mill, and the 
wharves below the mill were washed into the basin. 

" About fifty yards of the embankment of the Navi- 
gation Company's canal,hasbeen swept away, oppo- 
site Tumblino; run dam, and about one hundred feet 



292 HISTORT OF SCHUYLKILL COUNTY. 

of the embankment opposite G. Lawton's wharf, car- 
rying away his schutes and the old boat house, and 
the old bridge connecting the new turnpike with 
Mount Carbon, was also carried off. The towpath 
bridge opposite Lewisport is carried away — and a 
breach has been made in the canal at Adam's locks. 
Dribelbi's dam is also injured. 

" The Schuylkill bridge below this borough, is so 
much injured, that it is considered dangerous to pass 
over it. 

" At the first dam above Audenreid's mill, the water 
broke out and completely surrounded the lock-house, 
carrying away the stable, undermining the founda- 
tion of the house, and the lock also, the walls of both 
of which will probably fall down. About one hun- 
dred yards of the embankment of the canal has also 
been carried away. A sick person in the look-house 
was rescued with great difficulty, 

" The railroads in this region are all more or less in- 
jured by the destruction of bridges, undermining, &c. 
The town of Port Carbon was completely inundated — 
the water reached up almost as far as the bank; but 
two bridges are left standing. Mr. Kinsley has 
lost considerably, and Mr. Pott has lost his garden — 
an acre lot. 

" At Schuylkill Haven, the damage has also been 
\''ery great. Several of the coal wharves have been 
washed away, and the balance filled up. Mr. 
Lewis Daugherty, we learn, lost several railroad 
wagons. The coal has also disappeared from the 
wharves. 

'' The Tumbling run dam narrowly escaped from 
being carried away. The water had made a passage 
inside the wing wall of the water-way — fortunately, 
it was discovered in time, otherwise the dam would 
have been swept away, and Mount Carbon would 
have suffered severely." 



HISTORY OF SCHUYLKILL COUNTY. 293 

Port Carbon, a post town, was first laid out in 
1826, by Mr. Abraliam Pott; he first laid oif one 
hundred lots, of one acre each, from the mouth of 
Mill creek to the Salem landing. In 1828, he sold 
the lots and thirty-four acres of his farm, to Messrs. 
Seitzinger and Wetherill, for forty-five dollars per 
acre, who laid ofi' the whole into suitable town lots ; 
and as the place was created by the coal trade, it w^as 
called Port Carbon. 

The first house built in Port Carbon, was erected 
by A. Pott, in 1826, when, to use his own language, 
« We had a real log-cabin-raising." In 1 82 9, Mr. Pott 
sold sixty-four acres to Daniel J. Rhoads, for four 
tliousand dollars, who afterwards laid out Rhoads- 
town. In 1829, Mr. Pott laid out Irishtown, and 
sold one-half of it to Burd Patterson, Esq., and Mr. 
Joseph Swift ; still owning the half himself. In 1829, 
William Lawton laid out Lawtontown. The same 
year, A. Pott and John B. Gardener, laid out Acre- 
town. Young's addition was made in 1828. 

From these five original "starlings," viz : Port Car- 
bon, Irishtown, Rhoadstoivn, Lawtontoivn, Jlcre- 
town, and Young's Jiddition, now merged into one, 
arose a town, that numbered, at "the time of taking 
the census in 1830, about one hundred dwelling 
houses, and nine hundred and twelve inhabitants. 
The place is now known as Port Carbon. The place 
met with some reverses in 1831 and '32. "In the 
syncope," says a writer of 1832, "which followed the 
extreme excitement in the coal region, many of the 
houses are at present (1832) without tenants; some 
of them unfinished, and falling to decay." " But the 
site," continues the same writer, " has many advan- 
tages for a town, and as the shipping port for a large 
and rich coal region, must have considerable busi- 
ness. It lies at the confluence of Mill creek with 
the Schuylkill river, and upon the head of the navi- 
gation of the latter. The pool here gives great facili- 
ties for lading places, which are connected with the 



294 HISTORY OF SCHUYLKILL COUNTY. 

coal mines on both sides of the river, by railways, 
— the chief of which is the Mill creek road, and the 
Schuylkill valley road. The former extends up Mill 
creek. It has connected with several lateral roads." 
The Schuylkill railroad connects with Port Carbon 
and Tuscarora. 

Port Carbon is a place of considerable importance. 
It stands unrivalled as a place for shipping coal. A 
number of railroads center or terminate here, from 
numerous coal mines. The Schuylkill valley rail- 
road, the Mill creek railroad, the Port Carbon and 
Mount Carbon roads, (the latter connecting with the 
Reading railroad,) all centre here. More coal is 
shipped here than at Pottsville. 

Port Carbon consists of rising one hundred dwell- 
ings ; many of them make a fine appearance ; six 
taverns, thirteen dry goods, grocery and feed stores ; 
a steam-mill, owned by L. F. Whitney, Esq. ; iron 
foundry and machine shop, by T. 11. Winterstein; a 
shovel factory, by A. G. Brook; several warehouses; 
two churches, English Presbyterian, and German 
Reformed and Lutheran ; also, a public school house. 

There are several coal mines contiguous to it ; one 
owned by Michael McDormut, worked by Charles 
Ellett, with a slope six hundred feet deep, and two 
stationary engines ; one immediately above Port Car- 
bon, on the North American company lands, worked 
by Mr. Chillas. This mine was set on fire some 
twelve years ago, and burned for some time ; but 
has been again re-opened, and now successfully 
worked under the superintendence of Mr. Hodgkiss. 
It has a drift of three hundred and fifty yards in 
length. 

" We do not know," says the editor of the Anthra- 
cite Gazette* " a more busy or industrious popula- 
tion, than that contained in our sister borough of 

• Pottsville, May 11, 1844. 



HISTORY OF SCHUYLKILL COUNTY. 295 

Port Carbon. Being a depot of considerable impor- 
tance in the coal region, thronghont the business sea- 
son, it exhibits one unvaried scene of enterprize and 
active labor. Laden cars of coal from the various 
mines, extended along eight miles of the Schuylkill 
valley railroad, are continually pouring their useful 
freight into the boats at that place. The continual 
clatter of unloading, shoveling and screening coal, 
resounds from morning till night. The chink of the 
blacksmith's hammer — the hum of machinery, and 
deep-mouthed breathing of the powerful steam engine, 
are all wonted accompaniments to the labors of the 
day. Every thing denotes energy and activity, and 
lazy men are scarce commodities in that neighbor- 
hood. The favorable change which will be brought 
in the increase of population, business, and facility, 
after the completion of the Mount Carbon and Port 
Carbon railroads, will add greatly to the already fine 
prospects of the district. Port Carbon presents a fine 
site for a large town, and we confidently anticipate, 
that the day is not far distant, when all the fine 
building lots, with which the valley abounds, will 
be covered by good and substantial edifices. It will 
yet become (and this prediction may be recorded 
against us) one of the greatest and most important 
points in the Schuylkill county coal region. 

" The business now done in the borough, apart 
from the coal trade, is considerable. There are already 
large stores engaged in selling merchandize, all doing 
a good business, deriving their custom, not only 
from the immediate neighborhood, but principally 
from the numerous mining villages, located at differ- 
ent points along the routes of the above mentioned 
railroads. 

" In speaking of Port Carbon, we have taken in 
the several additions known as Lawtontown, Irish- 
town, &c., as they are all comprised within a short 
limit, and are, in fact, always considered as the place 
itself." 



296 HISTORY OF SCHUYLKILL COUNTY. 

Coaqiiennac, in Norwegian township, two miles 
above Port Carbon, on Mill creek — is a regularly laid 
out town, of two hundred and twenty lots, on a tract 
of land owned by the North American coal company. 
Little Wolf creek passes through it. It contains one 
tavern. 

St, Clair is one mile above Coaquennac ; consists 
of several dwellings, one tavern and a store. A 
powder mill, owned by Messrs. Frack and Seltzer. 

Neiv Castle is a post-town, in Norwegian town- 
ship, on the Sunbury turnpike, situated about four 
miles north-west of Pottsville, in a narrow valley of 
Mine hill. It was laid out by Lewis EUmaker and 
others, in 1830. It is a coal creation ; it contains be- 
tween fifty and sixty dwellings, some of which are 
substantially built ; one tavern, three stores, and a 
public school house. The population exceeds four 
hundred. 

Coal Castle, in Norwegian township, on the West 
Branch of the Schuylkill river, and on the railroad, 
at the foot of the Broad mountain, is a cluster of 
seventy small houses, or a miners' hamlet, about 
three miles above Minersville. 

"A little west of this place, at the "jugular vein," 
in Broad mountain, a coal mine on fire in the win- 
ters of 1838 ^39, and has since defied all attempts to 
extinguish it. It has even roasted the rocky strata 
of the mountain above it, destroying every trace of 
vegetation along the line of the breast, and causing 
vast yawning chasms, where the earth has fallen in, 
from which issue hot and sulphurous fumes, as from 
a volcano. The mine was ignited by a careless mi- 
ner, who, to moderate the temperature, placed a 
hanging grate at the mouth of the drift. The fire 
communicated to the props, and then to the railroad, 
and such a heat was caused, that it must have cracked 
off lumps of coal to feed the flames. It seems scarce 
possible that the compact vein itself can be on fire. 



HISTORY OF SCBUTLKILL COUNTY. 297 

although such may be the case. Two unfortunate 
miners perished in the mines. The lessee, Lewis C. 
Dougherty, after trying various experiments to ex- 
tinguish it, abandoned it, with a heavy loss." * 

Mackeysville, two miles west of Coal Castle, is a 
miners' hamlet, consisting of some thirty small dwel- 
lings. The mines are worked by Col. G. C. Wyn~ 
koop. 

* Day's His. Col., p. 613. 



/ 

/ 

/ 
/ , 



CHAPTER IIL 

HISTORY OF COAL, &c. 

Having given a brief topographical sketch of the 
several townships and towns in this comity, this pari 
of the work may be appropriately closed by giving a 
history of the discovery of coal, and coal operations 
in this region. To do this, place is given to the first 
and latest annual report of the Coal Mining Associa- 
tion of Schuylkill county ; the former made by the 
board in 1833, and the latter in 1845: 

The Board of Trade deem it proper, at this, the an- 
nual meeting of the " Coal Mining Association of 
Schuylkill County," to take a review of the state of 
the coal trade, from its commencement in this county, 
to the present time ; and give their views of the 
future prospects of the miner, together with such 
comparisons and inferences as may be thought rela- 
vent to the subject. 

So early as 1790, coal was known to abound in 
this county ; but, it being of a different quality from 
that known to our smiths as bituminous coal, and be- 
ing hard of ignition, it w^as deemed useless, until 
about the year 1795, when a blacksmith, named Whet- 
stone, brought it into notice, by using it in his smith- 
ery. His success induced several to dig for coal, and 
when found, to attempt the burning of it; but the 
difficulty was so great, tliat it did not succeed. 

About the year 1800, a Mr. William Morriss, 
who owned a large tract of land in the rieighborhood 



( 



HISTORY OF SCHUYLKILL COUNTY. 299 

of Port Carbon, procured a quantity of coal, and took 
it to Philadelphia, but he was unable, with all his ex- 
ertions, to bring it into notice ; and abandoned all his 
plans, returned, and sold his lands to Mr. Pott, the 
late proprietor. From that time, to about the year 
1806, no farther eflbrts to use it were made. About 
that time, in cutting the tale race for the Valley Forge 
on the Schuylkill, they struck on a seam of coal, 
which induced David Berlin, a blacksmith in the 
neighborhood, to make trial of it ; his success was 
complete, and from that period, it has been partially 
used. 

In the year 1812, our fellow citizen, Col. George 
Shoemaker, procured a quantity of coal, from a shaft 
sunk on a tract he had recently purchased on the 
Norwegian, and now owned by the North American 
Coal Company, and known as the Centreville Mines. 
With this he loaded nine wagons, and proceeded to 
Philadelphia ; much time was spent by him in en- 
deavoring to introduce it to notice, but all his efforts 
proved unavailing. Those who deigned to try it, de- 
clared Col. Shoemaker to be an impostor, for attempt- 
ing to impose stone on them for coal, and were 
clamorous against him. 

Not discouraged by the sneers and sarcasms cast 
upon him, he persisted in the undertaking, and at last 
succeeded in disposing of two loads, for the cost of 
transportation — and the remaining seven he gave to 
persons who promised to try to use it, and lost all the 
coal and charges. 

Messrs. Mellon and Bishop, at the earnest solicita- 
tions of Col. Shoemaker, were induced to make trial 
of it in their rolling mill in Delaware county, and 
finding it to answer fully the character given it by 
Colonel Shoemaker, noticed its usefulness in the 
Philadelphia papers ; and from that period, we may 
date the triumph of reason, aided by perseverance 
over prejudice. 

At this period, the mountains were but partially ex- 



300 HISTORY OF SCHUYLKILL COUNTT. 

plored, and the scant, but hardy population of the 
county, depended in a great measure on hunting, for 
their immediate wants, and on lumber, for supplying 
those articles of foreign product, that were required 
for their comforts or necessities. 

The lumber, procured during the winter, was 
formed into rafts, and sent down when spring freshets 
rendered the river navigable. By this uncertain, and 
at all times precarious mode of conveyance, the pro- 
duct of this county was conveyed to market, until 
the canal was completed, in the year 1825. 

In the year 1814, a few of the most enterprising of 
the citizens projected a canal from Philadelphia to 
this place, under an impression that the lumber of 
Schuylkill county, and the grain of the counties bor- 
dering on the Susquehanna, would find a vent, and 
ultimately afford a dividend to the stockholders. 

At that period there were a few who looked for- 
ward to a time, when the coal from this county would 
be the principal article of export, and would become 
an article of general use ; but the number was small, 
and a vast majority looked on the formation of a canal 
tlirough this wild and mountainous region, as a chi- 
merical scheme, more fitted for speculators in a stock 
market, than from any benefit that might result to the 
stockholders, or the public. 

But, with all the discouragement attendant on a 
measure so opposite to public opinion, the stock was 
taken by the enterprising capitalists of our metropolis, 
and the work pushed with vigor to a completion, 
which was so far accomplished in the summer of 1825, 
as to enable boats to pass from Pottsville to Philadel- 
phia. 

As was to be expected, from a work of such mag- 
nitude, being undertaken and finished under such dis- 
couraging prospects, the canal was in many places 
defective ; and owing to the embankment being new, 
breaches occurred so frequently, for some years after. 



HISTORY OP SCHUYLKILL COUNTY. 301 

that it was at all times an uncertain conveyance, un- 
til, by the unremitting exertions, and laudable and 
praiseworthy perseverance of the Directors of the 
Navigation Company, the work was, last year, 
brought to that state of perfection, that warrants the 
assurance that the navigation may now be depended 
on. 

It has been urged as a complaint against the Navi- 
gation Company, that the tolls required are higher 
than they should be, and to enable us to sell coal as 
low as the citizens of our Atlantic cities require of us, 
that a reduction should be made — but when we take 
into view the heavy amount that has been expended 
by the company ; and that for many years no divi- 
dend had been made ; and that from the commence- 
ment of the work, up to the present time, the dividend 
on the stock will not average more than one-half per 
cent, per annum; in addition to which, the projected 
improvements, for the coming and succeeding years, 
are of such magnitude, as will absorb the greater 
part of the revenue ; it cannot, in reason, be asked of 
them to reduce the rate of tolls ; and your board can- 
not withhold from the directors of the company, the 
expression of their approbation and praise, for the 
liberal and enlightened course they have pursued, in 
bringing the work to so perfect a state ; and they feel 
gratified in anticipating the profitable return that will, 
ere long, be made them for their capital, so long un- 
profitably employed in a work that requires such un- 
tiring zeal and perseverance, as has been seldom dis- 
played in this or any other country. 

In making the foregoing remarks, your board have 
been led some years in advance of their subject ; but 
feel it due to the Navigation Company, to give a view 
of their operations, to correct mis-statements made of 
them, and to place the subject in its true light before 
the association. 

They will now proceed to give a brief outline of 



302 HISTORY OP SCHUYLKILL COUNTY. 

the coal business, from the best mformation in their 
possession. 

In the year 1813, several small openings were made 
in different parts of the comity, by sinking shafts; and 
the coal taken out, was vended to the smiths and 
others in the neighborhood, at twenty-five cents per 
bushel, or three dollars and fifty cents per ton, at the 
pit's mouth. These shafts were sunk but a few feet, 
in the c7'op of the vein, and the coal raised by means 
of the common windless and buckets, and so soon as 
they attained a depth where the water became trouble- 
some, (which seldom exceeded thirty feet,) the shaft 
was abandoned, and another sunk, and the same pro- 
cess undergone. 

In the year 1823, an improvement was made in the 
mode of working, by substituting horse power and 
the gin, for the windless heretofore used 5 by which 
they were enabled to clear the water from the shafts 
with great facility, and to sink farther on the veins. 
But with this, (as it was then conceived great im- 
provement) they were only enabled to run down the 
vein for a short distance; and the coal, in point of 
comparison, was inferior ; as experience has since 
taught, that the crop is not equal to the coal that is 
taken out lower ; and when the roof and floor have 
attained the regularity and hardness, so necessary to 
ensure good coal. 

At the period alluded to, railroads were unknown 
amongst us, and tlie mode of transporting was by 
connnon wagons, over roads at all times bad, and 
through a country, where, from^ its mountainous 
cliaracter, the horse was able to do but little, in com- 
parison to what can be done on a plain and level 
country. 

Yet, with all these difficulties, the work was con- 
tinued ; and the price attained, (owing to the heavy 
expense of working) afforded but a scanty pittance 
to the men employed, without, in any manner, reim- 
bursing the owner of the land for the loss of the 



HISTORY OF SCHUYLKILL COUNTY. 30* 

limber, exclusive of the impoverishing of his coal 
beds. 

As far back as 1814, drifts had been run on the 
heads of veins, in several places, and the coal brought 
from them in wheelbarrows ; but it was not till 1827^ 
that the railroad was introduced into drifts, and from 
that period to the present, drifts have been the univer- 
.sal mode. Improvements have been making from 
that to the present time, and it is believed they have 
attained that degree of perfection, which has so long 
been desired, and such as to enable the miner to work 
on the best and cheapest plan. 

The introduction of railroads into this county forms 
an important era in the history of this district, and de- 
serves the attention of all who are engaged, or in 
any manner interested in mining ; as by their intro- 
duction, those distant beds of coal, that, a few years 
since, were believed to be too remote to admit of be- 
ing worked, but were held as a reserve, for a future 
generation ; and were supposed to be unavailing, un- 
til all those beds lying on the canal were exhausted, 
and which are now brought into active use, and the 
whole region, forming a district, averaghig eighteen 
miles in length, from east to west ; and in breadth, 
from north to south, four miles, is traversed or inter- 
sected by railroads, and is rendered capable of being 
worked. 

Previous to the erection of any of the public rail- 
roads, our enterprizing fellow citizen, Abraham Pott, 
constructed a railroad from his mines, east of Port 
Carbon, to that place, making half a mile. This served 
as a model, and may be termed the beginning, from 
which all originated. 

The Mill Creek railroad was 
begun in 1829, and finished in the 
same year ; it is a single track, 40 
inches, and extends from Port 
Carbon to the Broad mountain. It 



S04 HISTORy OP SCHUYLKILL COUNTY. 

is now intended to lay a new road 
to intersect the Danville road at 
the Broad mountain, which can be 
done at a small expense. This 
road runs through the coal region, ^ 

from east to west, and cost, origi- 
nally S5,000 
The laterals leading into it, cost 4,000 



{59,000 



The Schuylkill Valley railroad 
was commenced in 1S29, and fin- 
ished in 1830. It extends from 
Port Carbon to Tuscarora, is ten 
miles long, with a double track of 
40 inches, and cost 63,000 

Add to which, laterals, that in- 
tersect it in every direction 20,000 



83,000 



The Norwegian and Mount Car- 
bon railroad, which is designed to 
form a part of the Pottsville and 
Danville railroad, was commenced 
in 1829, and finished in 1831. 
About one mile above Pottsville, 
it branches and runs up the east 
and west branches of the Norwe- 
gian. For three miles it is a double 
track, fifty-six inches and a half, 
built in the most substantial man- 
ner, and cost 97,000 

Its laterals cost about 3,000 



100,000 



The next in order is the Mine 
Hill and Schuylkill Haven rail- 
road, which extends from Schuyl- 
kill Haven, (5 miles below Potts- 
ville,) to the Broad mountain, a 
distance of 1 1 miles, and with the 
West West Branch connecting 



mSTORT OF SCHliYLKILL COUNTY. 305 

Nwith it, forms a line of 1 5 miles, 

at a cost of 18^2,000 

To this road there are several 
miles of lateral, costing 20,000 



202,000 



The Little Schuylkill railroad> 
extending from Port Clinton to 
Tamaqua, a distance of 22 miles, 
touches but for a small distance 
•an the coal region, until it ap- 
proaches the valley of Tamaqua. 
The road is at present laid down 
with a single track, fifty-six inches 
and a 'half; but as it is not yet 
completed, but is designed for a 
double track, calculated for a loco- 
m.otive engine, it will cost, when 
finished 260,000 

To which may be added the 
roads and laterals connected with 
mines, immediately on the line of 
the canal ; which, at a moderate 
estimate, cost 2,000 



262,006 



Making a tota;l of railroads, of Sl6 56,000 

The amount invested in lands and bnild- 
iKgs in this county, is estimated at 6,000,000 

The amount expended in opening veins, 
fixtures, cars, &:c., &c., connected with 
mining 200,000 

To which may be added 500 b(>ats, 
averaging ^500 each 250,000 



Making a total of money invested, 
amounting to ^7,106,000 

Although mining was carried on here from 1813, 
it was not until the canal was completed, that any 
correct account of the coal sent, could be obtained 
T 



306 HISTORY OF SCHUFLKILL COUNTY. 

Under that period, arks and river boats were used ; 
and the quantity sent down was small, and the diffi- , 
culty in selling was great at any price. 

Until the year 1820, wood was the only fuel used 
in Philadelphia ; but, from the immense quantity 
required to supply the city, the forests in the neigh- 
bourhood were fast disappearing, and a means of a 
future supply had for some time occupied the atten- . 
tion of the economist and philanthropist. 

The discovery of coal, in the counties of Lehigh 
and Schuylkill, appeared to offer the long desired 
mode of furnishing a supply, when the forests were 
exhausted; and as. wood had attained even at that 
date, a high price, (being frequently from ten to 
fifteen dollars per cord, during the winter,, when the 
navigation was closed,) and every year increasing, , 
the introduction of coal, as a substitute for wood, was 
attempted ; but it being of a quality unknown to most 
of the citizens, great difficulties were to be overcome, 
before it could be iPftroduced to any extent. 

To accomplish this object, it was necessary to com- . 
b0,t and remove old and lang established habits and 
prejudices ; and to satisfy the public, that a saving 
would be made. In addition to the habits of the 
people being fixed, all the preparations for consu- 
ming fuel were made for v/ood, and before coal could 
be used, grates must be substituted for the open fire 
places, at a heavy expense, which was thought toe 
great to be hazarded for an uncertainty. 

It was a long time before grates were brought to 
that degree of perfection, sufficient to satisfy the pub- . 
lie that Anthracite coal could be used ; as the early 
friends. of the measure, in their zeal to introduce it 
iilto general use, held out to the public the idea, that 
so small a quantity was sufficient to answer for heat- 
ing rooms, that ma% , acting on their suggestion, had 
t^eir grates .eonstraeted on so small a scaje, that they 
^ere found totally inadequs^te for the purpose, and ^ 



HISTORY OP SCHUYLKILL COUNTY. 307 

were thrown aside by many in despair, and wood 
was again resorted to. 

The experiment, after repeated trials, succeeded ; 
and, in 1825, they were brought to such a state as 
to satisfy the pnbhc that coal, as an article of fuel, 
could be used with safety and economy. 

In addition to other causes that operated against 
the general use of Anthracite as a fuel, its general 
hardness and want of bitumen, prevented its easy 
ignition, and required some practice to enable the 
citizens to make their fires; and it was considered 
quite a recommendation for a servant, if they were 
able to make coal fires. 

The year 1825 raaj'- be considered as the era from; 
which we may date the fair introduction of Anthra- 
cite coal ; as grates were then brought to perfection : 
and from then to the present date, the consumption 
has gradually increased. To bring, before the Asso- 
ciation at one view, the increase of the trade, we 
annex a statement of coal shipped from this section, 
from the year 1825 to the present date, with the price 
paid at this place. 



1825, 


G,500 tons at 


$3 08 


per ton. 


1826, 


16,767 


do 


2 80 


(( (( 


1827, 


31,360 


do 


2-80 


u a 


1828, 


47,284 


do 


2 52 


(I (( 


1829, 


79,973 


do 


2 52 


(( a 


1830, 


89,984 


do 


2 52 


a a 


1831, 


87,854 


do 


1 50 


11 a 


1832, 


209,271 


do 


2 37: 


a a 


From the foregoing statement, 


it appears that from 


IS25, the 


increase has been gradual, and .at an aver- 


age price 


of $2j51 per ton. 









From documents in possession of the ■ Board, it 
appears there were sent to tide water during the las£' 
season, from all sources, 373,871 tons, and from the 
liest information we are able to collect, the supply on^ 



308 HISTORY 0F SCHUYLKILL COUNTY. 

hand in all our cities, when the navigation opens, 
will not exceed 20,000 tons, which will leave for the 
last year's consumption, 353,871 tons. As it is fair 
to infer that the increased consumption will keep 
pace with that of former years, we may put down 
the demand for 1833, at' 480,000 tons, of which 
20,000 are already in market, leaving 460,000 tons 
to be supplied from all sources. Of this quantity it 
is possible the Lackawana works may be able to fur- 
nish 90,000, and the Lehigh 100,000 — leaving to be 
supplied froni this county, 270,000 tons. 

Agreeably to the circular of the Lehigh Companyy 
they will be able to furnish, the coming season, 150,- 
000 tons : but, as they have for some years been in 
the habit of estimating their capabilities at 100,000, 
which they have never realized, and as their means 
of transportation will be no greater next season than 
they were last, it is believed 100,000, tons will be the 
maximum of their product. The Lackawana, from 
the opinion of experienced engineers, is able to fur- 
nish on their present road, no more than 90,000 ; at 
which amount we have rated them. 

Assuming 270,000 tons as the quantity that will 
be required from this region, the next enquiry is, are 
we capable of furnishing that amount ? and for what 
price can it be delivered in the boats? 

It is the opinion of the Board, that the quantity 
required can be furnished, if the drifts, now in order, 
and about being put in order, are worked vigorously^ 
but, should purchasers be backward in giving their 
orders, that quantity cannot be had, as it required 
strong exertions to yield the quantity sent last season, 
although more than 30,000 tons of that quantity was 
of old stock that had been mined the year previous ; 
but, owing to the depressed state of the trade, and the 
consequent low price in 1831, had lain at the mines, 
until a price could be obtained that would save the 
owners from loss. 



HISTORY OP SCHUYLKILL COUNTY. S09 

It is believed from the panic that pervaded the 
«3ealers in Boston, New York and Philadelphia, that 
the orders in the spring will be limited, and that but 
a small business will be done in the early part of the 
season. Should this be the case, the quantity mined 
will fall far short of that required — as from the na- 
ture and situation of many of our openings, there is 
not room to stock up a large quantity — and, in con- 
sequence, the works must be suspended, or worked 
weak handed. In either case the operators wiU be 
forced to seek other employment, and become scat- 
tered over the country, and- when wanted cannot 
be had. 

It appears by the statement heretofore given, that 
the price of coal delivered on board the boats, prior 
to 1831, was $2,70 per ton; and that the average 
from the commencement of the business was ^2,51. 
To those at a distance that sum may appear large.. 
A slight acquaintance with the business will satisfy 
every unprejudiced mind, that it is not more than 
sufficient to reimburse the collier for his capital em- 
ployed. To the unexperienced it bears the appear- 
ance of a safe and lucrative business — and, were 
fire-side calculations to be relied on, this assumption 
would hold good. 

But to those who have had experience in mining, 
and have known the actual charges, the sum hereto- 
fore charged is known to be no more than a fair 
profit on the capital invested. Could all the veins 
opened be relied on, and were there no faults to be 
encountered, coal would afford a fair profit at ^2,00 ; 
but as these are cases that none have realized — but, 
on the contrary, all veins are not only liable to, but 
actually are troubled with them, it cannot be consid- 
ered as a compensation. 

It is well known to all of this association, that 
faults have occurred at times when least expected,, 
and when every preparation was made for doing a 
krge business; and that it is no uncommon occur- 



310 HISTORY OP SCHUYLKILL COUNTY. 

renee to meet them when every appearance indica- 
ted a fair and prosperous issue. Weeks, and some- 
times months, are required to cut through tliese faults, 
before a ton of coal can be again taken from the vein ; 
and breasts are again to be opened, shafts sunk for 
ventilation, and a long time spent in preparing. Be- 
sides all this, the constant wear and tear of wagons, 
fixtures, &c., form a series of items, together with 
numerous etceteras that cannot be taken into calcu- 
lation, until actual experience has pointed them out. 
To afford the collier a fair profit on his investment, 
and enable him to keep his works and fixtures in 
order, the Board feel confident that nothing less than 
$2,50 per ton at Pottsville or Port Carbon, and $2,75 
at Schuylkill Haven, will be sufficient. The differ- 
ence of 25 cents between Pottsville and Schuylkill 
Haven is a fair allowance, as the increased distance 
they are required to haul on the West branch rail- 
road will require ail that sum ; and as the difference 
in freight and toll between the places is 25 cents in 
favour of Schuylkill Haven, the places, by this differ- 
ence, are brought to a perfect equality. 

The board have seen, with astonishment, the charge 
of monopoly brought against the colliers of this region, 
and the high price of coal, in our Atlantic cities, attri- 
buted to the grasping spirit of colliers here. They 
would pass this unmerited charge by as unwortliy of 
notice, but that the accusation having been so long 
made, and undenied, has induced a belief in many 
that there is foundation for it ; and, under a belief of 
the truth of the accusation, petitions are about being 
presented to Congress, praying them to reduce or 
abolish the duty on foreign coal. They have seen, 
with equal astonishment, that the Board of Aldermen 
of the city of New York, (under an impression, as 
they presume, that the charges against us are found- 
ed in fact,) have also, as a body, petitioned for a re- 
peal of duties. 

A charge of so grave a nature, coming from so 



HISTORY OF SCHUYLKILL COUNTY. 311 

respectable a source, requires from us a firm denial ; 
as well as proof of the unjustness of the charge. We 
have already shown that, with the exception of the 
year 1831, coal was never sold lower than it was the 
last year ; and it is well known to all engaged in the 
trade, that the price of 1831 was far below what the 
article cost. The price of that year was not suffi- 
cient to pay for the labor of taking the coal from the 
mine, and delivering it on the landing, and the owner 
received nothing for his coal. 

It is a well known fact, th^t a perch of building 
stone, or 24i cubic feet, costs in Philadelphia from 
81 to $1,25. It is quarried from the mines, two miles 
from the city, and is known to be much easier obtained 
than coal ; it does not require one-fourth the labour, 
and is of no intrinsic value : whereas a ton of coal, 
or 28 cubic feet, is hauled on an average 10 miles, 
and was delivered in 1831, for 81,50, making a dif- 
ference in the cost, of not quite one-third of a cent 
per cubic foot more for coal, than for building stone. 
This fact needs no comment, and must, at first blush, 
■satisfy all. 

The true cause of coal costing more last season at 
tide water, than of right it should do, was not owing 
to the price at which it was sold here, as we believe 
we have fully shown it was quite as low as it could 
be afibrded, but was owing tc the extravagant freights 
that were paid for carrying it on the canal. 

The depressed state of the trade in 1831 discour- 
aged the building of boats, and when the canal 
opened in 1832, it was found there were not suffi- 
cient to carry to market the quantity required. In 
consequence, freight opened at ^1,50, which was 
deemed, by the dealers here, a fair rate ; and as it 
paid a good profit to the boatmen, it was believed it 
would have a beneficial effect, as all our boat-build- 
ers were put in requisition, and there was a fair pros- 
pect that there would, in a short time, be a suffi- 
ciency, and that we could safely depend on freights 



31-2 HISTORY OF SCHUYLKILL COUNTS. 

going no higher. This might have been the case,^ 
had not the cholera appeared in Philadelphia; but-, 
so soon as that scourge was known to have made its- 
appearance, the boatmen became alarmed, and many 
of them drew off their boats, and the few who con- 
tinued, were only induced to remain by the increased 
wages they received. From $l,50j freight went up 
as high as $3,75 ; in the meantime, boats were being 
built at every yard, and it Vv^as confidently anticipa- 
ted by those who are engaged in mining, and whose 
interest it is to deliver co-al at the cheapest possible 
rate, that, as soon as the alarm should subside, busir 
ness worJdy resume its usual course, and that freight 
would come, down to a fair standard. But the par- 
tial stop put to shipping, and the consequent- small 
shipments, caused purchasers, to instruct their agents, 
(many of whom have no interest farther than ths 
commission they receive,) to forward, as fast as pos- 
sible — in consequence, a competition took place be- 
tween the agents, of who should do the most. Tl;te 
boatmen took advantage of the contention, and all 
hopes of reducing freight to a fair standard, were dis,- 
sipated. In co-nsequence of this, an average of $2 
was paid for frieight, more than should have been 
done, and that sura was added to the cost of coal at 
tide water. It is believed by your Board, that there 
will be a sufhcLent number of boats, on the line, at th$ 
commencement of the coming season, to carry all tlie 
coal that may be required, and, that freight may be 
had, the seasorj through, at $1,50, provided that 
agents of houses in our cities bq instructed not to 
raise on each other. 

As a great portion of the evil may be traced to the 
unlimited orders given to agents, we would suggest 
the propriety of each member advising their custom- 
ers, to select from amongst our citizens, a committee, 
who shall serve as advisers for agents in all cases ; 
and it is believed an arrangement may be made, thai 
will insure a fair price to the boatmen, and^ at tlie 



HISTORY OF SCHUYLKILL COUNTY. SIS 

same time, save the distant purchasers from ex 
tortion. 

From information derived from sources that may 
be relied on, we feel warranted in saying there will 
be 600 boats on the canal, at the opening of the sea- 
son, and as the average burthen last year was near 
35 tons, and embraced a large number of " Union 
Boats," and as all the new boats are of 45 tons and 
over, it will be safe to average the boats for next sea- 
son at 38 tons, making a tomiage amounting to 
22,800. Allowing 16 triips for the year, they will be 
able to transport 364,800 ; but, as a portion of the 
boats will be used for transporting other articles than 
coal, it will be safe to estimate at 270,000 tons for 
coal, which is the amount that will be required, and 
as we may conclude $1,50 as the highest freight, the 
cost of a ton of coal, delivered at tide water will be : 

Delivered in the boats at Port Carbon, $2 50 
Toll on the canal, 1 00 

Freight to Philadelphia,, 1 5&, 



85 00 
At which price it will be the cheapest fuel that 
can be used, and below which it will be impossi- 
ble to deliver it, with any prospect of profit to the 
collier. 

It has been urged on the public that if the present 
duty is taken ofl', coals may be imported from Eng- 
land, and sold at prices below what they are now 
selling for. To those engaged in mining anthracite 
coal, it is of little consequence whether there is any 
duty on the article or not, as it is confidently believed 
by your board, thafe the superiority of our article for 
domestic purposes, as well as for generating steam, is 
so great over bituminous, that it can never be brought 
to compete with it, even if sold at a lower price ; as it 
must be evident to all, that those who have once 
Hsed anthracite, will never willingly abandon it fc«.- 



3r4 HISTOItY 6P -SCHUYLKILL COUNTY. 

bituminous. But as there are large beds of bitumin- 
ous coal in this state, as well as in Virginia, that 
might be atfected by a reduction of duties, it may be 
well to examine into the truth of the assertion. 

It is well known to all mercantile men, that the 
principal part, if not all the coals brought from Eng- 
land, are brought as ballast; and if the shipowner 
can realize cost for the article, he is satisfied to lose 
the freight and charges, as, from the nature of the 
articles brought from England, he is compelled to 
take coal or salt as ballast, or purchase stone or earth, 
which is utterly useless when brought to this country. 
But admit for a moment that the whole country is to 
be supplied from England, it must be evident that a 
large number of vessels will be employed, and if a 
fair freight is paid, so far from reducing the article, 
it will enhance the price, exclusive of rendering it at 
ail times a fluctuating article. 

In the year 1830, a committee was appointed from 
both branches of the British Parliament, to examine 
into the state of the coal trade, and report. The com^ 
mittee was appohited on the petition of the citizens of 
a district, who considered themselves agneved by 
a tax or charge on coal, to the extent of less than one 
cent per bushel ; but with that prudent foresight that 
has always characterized that island of merchants, 
they examined, with minute care, into every branch 
of that important trade, and after an investigation of 
near four months, the committee of each branch pre- 
sented a report, which comprises 390 quarto pages, 
and were of opinion no alteration should be made, 
which opinion was adopted. 

We find, by referring to that report, that the price 
of coal at New-Castle-upon-Tyne, in 1829, was ^3,10 
per chaldron, transporting from New Castle to Lon- 
don, ^2,40, and delivering from the vessels to the 
-purchasers, ^3,05 — and, that with all charges added, 
'it cost the consumer in London, in the year 1829, for 



HISTORY OP SCHUYLKILL COUNTY. 315 

one chaldron delivered in his cellar, $11,25, equal to 
^10,321 per ton. To transport the supply of London 
from New Castle, it required 7021 vessels. 

From the foregoing, which from its high official 
character may be relied on, it is evident, that no reduc- 
tion in price can be expected from a reduction of 
duties, or a free trade. 

The British government has, for many years, 
looked to the coal trade, as a fruitful source for sea- 
men, audit has with truth, been called the nursery of 
their navy ; that efficient arm of the nation. We 
may, from the gradual, but sure increase of coasting 
vessels employed in transporting our product to the 
eastern states, look with equal certainty to this branch 
of trade, for a sure supply of our hardy seamen, 
when their country may require their aid. 

Your board could, by going into detail, adduce 
proof sufficient to satisfy the most inveterate advocate 
of free trade, that it is contrary to the interest of the 
nation, or of the individuals composing it, to reduce 
the duty on CGal,but they deem the foregoing sufficient 
to satisfy all, who are not, from interested motives, 
wedded to the principle of free trade, and should not 
have deemed it necessary to have said any thing on 
the subject, but from the respectable character of the 
association, who now stand most prominent as appli- 
cants for a repeal. 

With a district of country embracing all the variety 
of anthracite coal — with a class of individuals of the 
most persevering industry — 'we may fairly challenge a 
competition with the world. Here, the city dealer may 
be supplied with any article to suit the taste or 
opinions of his customers. He may have it of all 
degrees of hardness, and from the pure white, to the 
bright red ash, and of a purity, surpassed by none iii 
the universe. 

Within the last two years, the business has settled 
'down to a fair and regular trade, and the care be- 



316 HISTORY OF SCHUYLKILL COUNTY. 

Stowed in clearing the coal from slate and other im-- 
purities has increased, and Schuylkill coal is deserv- 
edly esteemed above all other, and will, at all times, 
command $1,00 per ton more than any other in the 
eastern market. 

To preserve the high character we liave obtained-, 
the board earnestly enjoin it on the association not to 
relax in their endeavors, but to continue their exer- 
tions, to add still farther to the character of our staple, 
and by close attention to the interests of those who 
confide in them, to merit and retain a character that 
will warrant the foreign dealer in placing confidence 
in them. 

As the executive of the association, the board hold 
themselves prepared, at all times, to render all the aid 
and assistance in their power, and it will aflbrd them 
pleasure, if the experience they have had in mining, 
can be rendered serviceable to any member of the 
association, or any person, in any manner interested, 
in the trade. 



HISTORY OP SCHUYLKILL COUNTY. 3l1^ 



REPORT OF 1845. 

The period has now arrived when it becomes the 
duty of the Board of Trade to submit to the Goal 
Mining Association, their annual Report. 

In the performance of this duty, they will bring 
into review the coal operations of the past year, the 
improvements immediately connected with the busi- 
ness, as well as those in progress and in expectation ; 
and also the routes of transportation to tide water. 

The amount of anthracite coal sent from the mining 
districts, during the year ending on the first inst., will 
be seen by the following table : 

From Schuylkill. 
By canal 398,443 

" Phila. and Reading R. R. 441,491 



From Lehigh 


839,934 

377,821 


" Lackawana 


251,005 


" Wilkesbarre 


114,906 


" Pine Grove 


34,916 


'•' Shamokin 


13,087 



1,631,669 
Adding remaining on hand first of April 

last 50,000 



1,681,669 



Deduct amount sent by railroad from Jan. 

1, to April 1, 52,240 



1,629,429 



318 HISTORY OF SCHUYLKILL COUNTY. 

In making up the above table in the usual manner; 
including in the first place, all the coal sent down 
from January to January, and adding the amount on 
hand on the 1st of April, it then becomes necessary to 
deduct the quantity sent by railroad from January 1st 
to April 1st, in order to show the correct amount in 
the market. 

The following table exhibits the quantity of coal 
sent from all the anthracite coal basins of Pennsyl- 
•yania, since the commencement of the trade ; together 
with the annual increased supply, consumption, and, 
quantity remaining unsold, and also that disposed of, 
an the line of our canal and railroad. 



HISTORY OP SCHUYLKILL COUNTY'. 



319 



A TABLE 



Ethihiting the quantity of Coal sent from all the 
Anthracite Coal Basins of Pennsylvaiiia since 
the com?ne7ice7nent of the trade, 4c. <§'C. 





SCHUYLKILL. 


LEHIGH. 


YEARS. 


CANAL. 


R. ROAD. 


TOTAL. 


TOTAL. 


1820 








365 


1821 








1,073 


1822 








2,240 


1823 








5,823 


1824 








9,541 


1825 


6,500 




6,500 


28,393 


1826 


16,767 




16,767 


31,280 


1527 


31,360 




31,360 


32,074 


1828 


47,284 




47,234 


30,232 


1829 


79,973 




79,973 


25,110 


1830 


89,984 




89,984 


41,750 


1831 


81,854 




81,854 


40,966 


1832 


209,271 




209,271 


70,000 


1833 


252,971 




252,971 


123,000 


1834 


226,692 




226,692 


106,244 


1835 . 


339,508 




339,508 


131,250 


1836 


432,045 




432,045 


146,522 


1837 


523,152 




523,152 


225,937 


1838 


433,875 




433,S75 


214,211 


1839 


442,608 




442,608 


221,850 


1840 


452,291 




452,291 


225,288 


1841 


584,692 




584,692 


142,821 


1842 


491,602 


49,290 


540,892 


272,129 


1843 


447,058 230,237 


677,295 


267,734 


1844 


398,443 441,491 


839,934 


377,821 




5,587,930 721,018 


6,308,948 


2,773,654 



3^.0 



HISTORY OF SCHUYLKILL COUNTY. 



TABLE CONTINUED 



OTHER REGIONS. 



YEARS. 


LACKAWANA. 


PINE 
GROVE. 


SHAMO- 
KIN. 


WILKES- 
BARRE. 


AGGRE- 
GATE. 


1820 










365 


1821 










1,073 


1822 










2,240 


1823 










5,823 


1824 










9,541 


1825 










34,893 


1826 










48,047 


1827 










63,434 


1828 










77,516 


1829 


7,000 








112,083 


1830 


43,000 








174,734 


1831 


54,000 








176,820 


1832 


84,600 








363,871 


1833 


111,777 








487,748 


1834 


43,700 








376,636 


1835 


90,000 








560,758 


1836 


103,861 








682,428 


1837 


115,387 


17,000 






881,476 


1838 : 


78,207 


13,000 






739,293 


1839 


122,300 


20,639 


11,930 




819,327 


1840 


148,470 


23,860 


15,505 




865,414 


1841 


192,270 


17,653 


21,463 




958,899 


1842 


205,253 


32,381 


10,000 


47,346 


1,108,001 


1843 

1844 


227,605 
251,005 


22,905 
34,916 


10,000 
13,087 


58,00011,263,539 
114,906 1,631,660 




1,878,435 182,354 


81,985 


220,252 


11445628 



HISTORY OF SCHUYLK?/lL COUNTY. 



321 



TABLE CONCLUDED. 



INCREASE, CONSUMPTION, &c. 



" 


ANNUAL 


CONSUMP- 


UNSOLD 


SOLD ON 


YEARS. 


INCREASE. 


TION, 


APRIL 1. 


CANAL AND 
RAIL ROAD. 


1820 










1821 


708 








1822 


1,167 








1823 


§,583 








1824 


3,718 








1825 


25,352 








1826 


13,154 






3,154 


1827 


15,837 






3,372 


■(828 


14,082 






3,332 


1829 


34,567 






5,321 


1830 


62,651 






6,150 


1831 


2,086 


177,000 




10,048 


1832 


187,051 


298,871 


none. 


1.3,429 


1833 


123,877 


434,986 


65,000 


19,429 


1834 


DECREASE. 


■ 415,186 


117,762 


18,571 


1835 


184,122 


635,935 


79,212 


17,863 


1836 


121,670 


632,428 


4,035 


21,749 


1837 


199,048 


680,441 


54,035 


28,775 


1838 


DECREASE. 


788,968 


255,070 


30,390 


1839 


80,034 


867,000 


205,395 


28,924 


1840 


46,087 


973,136 


157,622 


41,223 


1841 


93,485 


958,899 


100,000 


40,384- 


1842 


1 149,102 


1,158,001 


100,000 


.34,619 


1843 


1.55,538 


1,263,539 


50,000 


<50,000 


1844 


368,130 




50,000 


90,000 



u 



322 HISTORY OF SCHUYLKILL COUNTY. 

There appears to be 90,000 tons of coal distibuted 
along the line of our canal and railroad ; and from 
Wilkesbarre, Pinegrove and Sharaokin, there appears 
to have been about 70,000 tons disposed of on the lines 
of canal through which the coal passes. And from the 
most reliable accounts that we can get possession of, 
we believe the quantity sold on the lines of transit 
from the Lehigh and Lackawana mines, may be set 
down at 90,000 tons, which will make a gross amount 
of 250,000 tons sold on the lines of transportation ; 
leaving 1,381,669 tc»ns of anthracite coal, that was 
sent the past year tO' the terminations of the canals 
and railroad over which it was transported, there to 
be consumed or shipped to other points. 

The amount of coal sent from this region the past 
year in boats, through the Schuylkill, and Delaware 
and Raritan canals, direct to the city of New York 
and its vicinity, appears to be 111,521 tons, which is 
8,451 tons less than, in the year 1843, and is owing 
to the large amount carried by railroad to Richmond., 
thence through the Delaware and Raritan canal to 
New York. 

The number of steam engines and amount of 
machinery at the cO'Uieries, is steadily and rapidly in- 
creasing, and we now have twenty-two collieries un- 
der water level, at which there are erected twenty- 
eight engines for raismg the coal and draining the 
mines, the aggregate power of them beuig equal to 
1,100 horses. And there has been erected within the 
past year thirteen smaller engines, equal to 1 78 horse 
power, for breaking coal ; making the whole number 
of engines in the region, employed in pumping, and 
in raising and breaking coal, forty-one, with an ag- 
gregate power of 1,278 horses. 

Ill addition to the forty-one engines employed 
about the mines, there are fifteen others, rated 186 
horse power,, employed in other business in the 
county, making a total of fifty-six steam engines, with 



HISTORY OF SCHUYLKILL COUNTY. 323 

an aggregate powerof 1,464 horses, employed in the 
county ; all of which, excepting four, have been built 
by our own machinists, and these machinists have 
now fifteen engines in the course of construction for 
our region. 

The introduction into this county within the past 
year of machinery for breaking coal, may justly be 
considered as au acquisition of vast importance to the 
already extensive means and appliances for econo- 
mising manual labor. 

The machine in general use was invented by 
Messrs. J. & S. Battin, of Philadelphia, and was first 
put up in their coal yard in that city about a year 
ago. 

The first in this county was erected by Mr. Gideon 
Bast, on Wolf creek, near Minersville, and since that 
time they have been put up in various places, and are 
found to answer the fondest hopes of the inventor, 
and meet most fully the wishes of the coal operators;, 
in performing the work at a very reduced cost and 
less waste of the coal. 

This machinery, with the circular screens attached, 
and driven by a twelve horse engine, is capable of 
breaking and screening 200 tons of coal per day, 
which is fully equal to the work of from forty to fifty 
men. 

Port Carbon is now connected with the railroad to 
Philadelphia, through the Mount Carbon and Port 
Carbon railroad, which was opened on the 1st of 
December last, by the unyielding perseverance of the 
engineers who were actively engaged in urging the 
work to its completion within the time required by 
the charter. 

The Schuylkill Valley Navigation and Railroad 
Company, have a large force employed under A. W. 
Craven, engineer, in straightening and grading the 
route for laying down a new road from the termmous 



324 HISTORY OP SCHUYLKILL COUNTY. 

of the Mount Carbon and Port Carbon railroad at 
Port Carbon, to Tuscarora, a distance of nine miles. 
This road is to be laid with heavy iron rails, and of 
the same width as the principal roads in the United 
States, which is four feet eight inches and a half be- 
tween the rails, and it is expected to be equal to any 
road in the country. 

Judging from the forward state of the work, and 
the determined energy of the men who are interested 
in it, there can be little or no doubt of its being ready 
for the transportation of coal by the 1st of May next; 
and a part of it will probably be in use before that 
time. 

The work for grading, and relaying the Mill Creek 
and Mine Hill railroad, Avith a wide track, and iron 
rail, and connecting it with the Mount Carbon and 
Port Carbon road, has also been commenced, with 
the intention of having it ready early in the coming 
season. 

A bridge is in progress of construction at Port 
Clinton, that will connect the Little Schuylkill railroad 
with the Philadelphia and Pottsville railroad, and in 
less than six months from this time, we shall see all 
the railroads of the coal region, that discharge their 
immense freight through the valley of the Schuylkill, 
connected with the main artery, that leads to the tide 
waters of the Delaware River at Richmond. 

The railroad to Philadelphia has been in steady 
and successful operation during the past year ; and 
in October last, the laying down of the second track 
was completed, presenting now two tracks of iron 
rails throughtout the whole distance of ninety-four 
miles, which is not to be seen on any other road in 
this country. 

The late improvement in the construction of loco- 
motive engines, by which they are enabled to draw 
two or three times as much as formerly, is calculated 



HISTORY OF SCHUYLKILJL COUNTY. 325* 

to cheapen the cost of transportation on railroads to 
an extent that few, if any, of us had ever imagined. 

Tiie improvements by Baldwin & Whitney, in con- 
necting six wheels, and using them all as drivers, 
with the weight of the engine bearing equally on 
them, has increased the power of the engine im- 
mensely, as was clearly shown by a trial in October 
last, when 750 tons of coal was drawn by one of 
these engines, and since that time, they have been 
making regular trips with from 4 to 500 tons. 

Those engaged in mining and transporting coal, 
have preferred the railroad to the canal, at the rates 
charged upon each ; and the advantages by railroad 
were considered so far superior to those by canal, 
that the cars on the road were in constant demand, 
while the boats were lying at our wharves waiting 
for cargoes ; and were principally loaded at Port 
Carbon, from whence the coal could not be sent in 
any other way than by canal 

But the quiet of the boats has been surpassed by 
the inertness of the canal company for some time 
past, by which they are likely to lose a large part of 
the coal trade for a time ; at least until they improve 
the canal, and put it in a condition to admit of trans- 
portation on it being done as cheaply as on the rail- 
road. 

We believe the canal coniipany have come to the 
same conclusion ; and learn that they have decided 
on making the canal sufficiently large to pass boats 
carrying from 150 to 200 tons ; and further, that some 
individuals are so thoroughly convinced of the advan- 
tages of steam power on canals, that they have de- 
termined upon trying it the coming season. 

We are fully satisfied that the enlargement of the 
canal and the application of steam, is the true and 
midoubted plan for cheapening the transportation on 
ikis line of improvement, and in perusing the report 



326 HISTORY OF SCHUYLKILL COUNTY. 

of the president of that company, we have been 
much gratified with the clear business style of the 
document, and the ability with which these advanta- 
ges are set forth. 

When such a navigation is completed, that boats 
or vessels carrying from 150 to 200 tons, can load at 
our wharves, and proceed directly to New York and 
other distant ports without transhipment of the coal, 
and be propelled by steam, we think the cost of trans- 
porting must be reduced to one-half, or perhaps, one- 
third of the cost in the present boats drawn by horses. 

When this enlargement of the canal is completed, 
we shall have a line of canal and a railroad, extend- 
ing from this place to tide water, not surpassed by 
any in the country ; but it must necessarily require 
some time to place the canal in this position ; and in 
the meantime the tonnage of the valley of the Schuyl- 
kill, which in the past year exceeded 1,000,000 of 
tons, will be steadily increasing, and in a very few 
years will number 2,000,000 tons of coal and mer- 
chandize. 

Thus it does appear that the large amount of capi- 
tal expended on the canal and boats, railroad and 
cars, is intended to meet the requirements of a busi- 
ness already very large, and which will, in all hu- 
man probability, be sufhcient in a few years, to give 
active and profitable employment to the millions of 
dollars expended for its accommodation. 

Five years since, the manufacturing of good iron 
with anthracite coal, was believed and asserted by 
some to be practicable, doubted by many, and posi- 
tively denied by a majority of the iron masters of 
this State. And now there are 13 blast furnaces in 
operation, using this fuel, and producing the best 
quality of foundry metal. The furnaces are of dif- 
ferent dimensions, producing from 30 to 100 tons 
each, of metal per week, and making in the aggre- 
gate about 700 tons per week. These 13 furnaces 



HISTORY OP SCHUYLKILL COUNTY. 327 

cannot consume less than 70,000 tons of coal per 
annum ; and the additional number that is expected 
will be put into operation within a year, will increase 
the consumption of coal to at least 100,000 tons per 
amium for this purpose only. 

Another means of consuming a large quantity of 
our coal is, in its application on boats and vessels, 
traversing canals and rivers and also the ocean. 

There are now thirty-five steam boats and vessels 
plying from the city of Philadelphia, to different points 
on the Delaware and its tributaries, and to New York; 
which consume annually about 45,000 tons of anthra- 
cite coal. 

From the best information we can get, the steam 
boats and vessels running from the city of New York 
in various directions, consume annually considerably 
more than 100,000 tons of anthracite coal, making the 
whole amount at these two points not less than from 
150 to 160,000 tons consumed annually, for generating 
steam for the propulsion of vessels. 

From the decided economy and advantages accord- 
ing to the present experience, arising from the use of 
steam in vessels running through our large canals 
and along the coast, we are led to the conclusion that 
in a few years a very large portion of the coasting 
trade, as well as that to the more contiguous foreign 
ports, will be done by steam vessels, and will neces- 
sarily use a large amount of coal. 

The rate of toll on the canal for the past year was 
reduced to thirty-six cents per ton, on coal, with an 
allowance of five per cent, for waste, and we are not 
aware that any change in the charge is contemplated 
for the coming season. 

The average freight for the whole boating season, 
xvas 77 cents to Philadelphia, and 82,16 per ton to 
New York. 

The whole charge per ton of coal by the railroad. 



328 HISTORY OF SCHUYLKILL COL'NTYj 

was |il,10 in the winter, and $1,25 from the 1st of^ 
July, until the 1st of December last. 

The canal was open and ready for the shipment of 
coal on the 23d of March, and notwithstanding the 
unprecedented dry weather, there was no interruption 
in business, luitil it was closed by iee on the 1 9tli of 
December. 

The amount of coal imported into the United' 
States for the year ending the 30th of June, 1844, is 
as follows : 

Tons. 
In American vessels, 49,909 

In Foregn do 37,164 



Total, 87,073 

If we add to the products of 1844, the increase in 
that year of anthracite coal over 184 3 as a guide for 
the probable amount required to be produced the com- 
ing season, we shall find it to amount to nearly 2,000,- 
000 of tons ; and some of our operators are making 
calculations that about this amount must be sent into 
market to meet the demand ; but we think this esti- 
mate may be somewhat top high, and trust that those 
engaged in mining will carefully watch the state of 
the market, in order to guard against either great ex-, 
cess or deficiency in the supply, and thereby prevent 
heavy losses, to, the producer, or great increased cost 
to the consumer, both of v^hich will be avoided by 
steering between the two extremes, and steady prices 
preserved; which is ; always desirable to the collier. 

In the report of the experiments made by Profes- 
sor W. R. Johnson, under the authority of Congress 
at the Navy Yard in Washington, on many specimens 
of anthracite and bituminous coal, we find in the 
table exhibiting the quantity of steam produced by 
one pound of fuel, that the coal sent from this region 
stands before all the other anthracites experimented 
^pon; and second only to two specimens of bitu . 



HISTORY OF SCHUYLKILL COUNTY. 329 

minous coal sent from the west branch of the Susque- 
hanna. 

We deem it necessary to call your attention to the 
movements again made in our legislature to i*^ipose 
a tax on coal, as an expedient for increasing the pub- 
lic revenue ; and in this last movement they seem to 
have forgotten, or purposely avoided bituminous coal, 
by haveing specified anthracite. 

One of the arguments used in favor of this, inieasure- 
is, that a large part of the debt of the state was incur- 
red for the purpose of constructing canals for the 
accommodation of this trade ; and if this is the case, 
and the public works do accommodate the coal trade, 
we cannot see the necessity of imposing a direct tax, 
separate and distinct from the tolls ; because if the tolls 
are increased, there will be an eq^al probability of 
an increased revenue, which can be more readily col- 
lected than a separate and direct tax, and done too, 
without any additional officers. 

If our legislatm'e think that an increased charge 
per ton on coal and all other merchandize, passing 
over the public works, is calculated to increase the- 
annual revenue flowing into the public colfers, we are 
perfectly satisfied that such a course should be pur 
sued, because it would operate equally and impar- 
tially. 

But we cannot see the justice of laying a direct 
tax on anthracite coal, without at the same time im- 
jjosing it upon all the other products of the state, in, 
proportion to its value. 

The heaviest portion of this tax would fall upon the. 
Goal sent from this region, for which the common- 
wealth has never expended one dollar to construct, 
a canal or railroad by which it could be carried to 
market. 

The coal lands here are valued at high rates and, 
heavily taxed ; and but few counties in the state pay 
gipre tax than the county of Schuylkill. 



330 HISTORY OP SCHUYLKILL COUNTY. 

If, however, it is necessary to raise more revenue, 
the landholders and colliers of this county are always 
ready to bear their proportion of any tax that is laid 
with a due regard to even-handed justice ; but we 
must be watchful and constant in protesting against 
this system of unequal taxation, than which there is 
nothing more certainly calculated to break down and 
destroy this branch of industry, which has been 
fostered into its present gigantic size, by much indi- 
vidual enterprize and very heavy pecuniary losses. 
All of which is respectfully submitted. 



CHAPTER lY. 

COAL REGION, AND MINING OPERATIONS IN 1844. 



{From the Anthracite Gazette.) 

THE ORIGIN AND FORMATION OF COAL, jji j 

Previous to entering upon a particular local de- 
scription or history of the developments of this 
region, we shall give a rapid and condensed view of 
the various theories by which scientific men account 
for the existence of the valuable mineral which makes 
our wealth. The subject is a curious one, and will 
possess much interest for those engaged in mining 
operations, while, in connection with the future arti- 
cles of this series, it will be serviceable as a chapter 
of reference. For the many scientific and practical 
facts embraced in the following, we are indebted to 
several rare and late English worlds, but more par- 
ticularly to our fellow townsmtvii, Samuel Lewis, 
Esq., who, from among his valuable store of informa- 
tion and experience, has kindly permitted us the use 
of many notes. 

There are perhaps but few subjects which have 
given rise to more conjecture or opened a wider field 
for the most extravagant hypothesis, than that which 
involves the origin of coal, and among the many 
questions which call into operation the ingenious 
workings of human reason, there are none more 



332 RISTORY OF SCHUYLKILL COUNTY. 

difficult of complete elucidation than this. The onlf 
rational course that we can pursue whilst cognizant oif 
this difficulty, is to lay before our readers the various 
theories as they have arisen, and after giving tire 
proofs advanced in favor of each, leave them to de- 
cide upon that which appears the most reasonable. 

From among the many opinions which have been 
propounded with respect ta the origin of this sub- 
stance, we enumerate the following five : 

First — That it is an earth, a stone chiefly of t>ie 
argillaceous genus, penetrated and impregnated with 
bitumen. 

Second — Is the opinion of Mr. Kirwan, who con- 
sidered coal and bitumen to have been derived from 
what he designated, "the primordial chaotic fluid." 

Third — That it is entirely of marine formation, and 
has originated from the- fat and unctuous matter of 
the numerous tribes oi animals that once iniiabited 
the ocean. 

Fourth — That it is q. marine fossil, formed in a 
manner similar to. tlie reefs of coral in the present 
ocean. 

Fifth — That it is of vegetable origin; that the ve- 
getable bodies have, subsequently to their being bu- 
ried under vast strata of earth, been mineralized by 
some unknown process, of which sulpiauric acid Iras 
probably been the principal agent, and thai; by means 
of this acid the oils of the different species of wood 
have been converted into bitumen, and a coaly sub- 
stance has been formed. 

The first opinion as quoted above, has been fully 
demonstrated to be inefficient from the fact that a 
number of coals are formed, whichiare entirely devoid 
of bitumen, and also that the quantity of earthy or 
stony matter in the most bituminous coal bears no 
proportion to them. 

The other three opinions must be looked upon as. 



filSTORY OF SCHUYLKILL COUNTY. 335 

Jiltogether speculative, and imaginary, although sev- 
eral scientific and chemical arguments may be ad- 
duced in their support. 

We are thus thrown upon the most prevalent as 
well as the most reasonable opinion, viz : " That it is 
of vegetable origin, derived as before stated, from 
vegetables." In this inquiry we shall use the argu- 
ments pertaining to Mr. Lewis' notion of the matter. 

" All are now agreed upon, what is indeed an un- 
deniable fact, that mineral coal is principally com- 
posed of carbon ; and it is a legitimate conclusion 
drawn from the present state of geological and chemi- 
cal knowledge, that carbon existed, either simply or in 
some state of combination, previous to the deposi- 
tion of the coal strata. For so far from this period 
being the time of the creation of matter, it was pecu- 
liarly the age of breaking up its old forms and re- 
arranging them anew; the whole amount of the dif- 
ierence then between two opinions, is reduced to the 
simple point, whether the carbon in the coal strata 
was simply precipitated from some chemical solution 
or combination into its present form of coal, or whe- 
ther it first passed through the form of organized 
vegetable matter, and was subsequently reduced by 
some unknown process to its present form. 

" Let us adopt which of these opinions we may, we 
shall find upon close examination, that the subject is 
by no means unincumbered with difficulties, and that 
it is by no means easy to arrive at conclusions that 
will bear strict scrutiny, and on which we can confi- 
dently rely. It is therefore strictly in accordance 
with the spirit of inductive philosophy, to adopt that 
theory which serves to explain the greatest number 
of facts, and patiently to wait until a sufficient num^ 
her of observations and experiments shall have been 
made to draw satisfactory conclusions on the subject. 
If I mistake not, the theory of the vegetable origin 
of coal best answers to those conditions. It better 
accords with deductions drawn from the most accu- 



334 HISTORY OF SCHUYLKILL COUNTY. 

rate and extensive observations — presents fewer dif- 
ficulties, and requires fewer suppositions than any- 
other. It is true that we are ignorant, and probably 
always shall be, of the place from whence such vast 
accumulations of vegetables were obtained, how they 
were disposed in such regular strata, and afterwards 
converted into coal. But the same may be said of 
each of the secondary and transition strata, that in a 
great measure compose the crust of our globe. For 
instance, who can tell from whence was derived the 
great variety of pebbles that go to make up the con- 
glomerate or pudding stone of the Sharp mountain — 
how they were broken into small pieces and tritura- 
ted and rounded into their present shapes, and then 
collected together and deposited in layers as we now 
find them. But because we cannot tell all this, does 
any one, who has fully examined the subject, believe 
that it has not happened. 

" Geologists have divided the strata composing the 
crust of the earth into five series, as follows, viz : 
Primary or primitive. Transition, Secondary, Ter- 
tiary and Diluvial, 

"The primary class are principally composed of 
chrystaline matter, without the admixture of frag- 
ments of other rocks, and do not possess a distinct 
and regular stratification or disposition in layers. 
They are wholly destitute of organic remains, that is, 
no trace or impression of animals or vegetables is 
found among them, and hence they afford no evi- 
dence that such existed at the time of their formation. 

" It is further remarkable that no carbonaceous mat- 
ter of any value for fuel, nor any considerable quan- 
tity of any kind has ever been found among these 
rocks. 

'' The next in order is the transition series ; these 
rocks generally lie in continuous beds or strata more 
or less inclined. The lower beds have a semi-chrys- 
taline appearance, and often contain the fragments of 



HISTORY OF SCHUYLKILL COUNTY. 335 

Other rocks. The upper beds are frequently com- 
posed in whole or in part of pebbles and fragments 
partially rounded and cemented together. In these 
rocks we find the first evidences of the existence of 
animal and vegetable organization, thus indicating a 
transition or change from a pure ehrystaline and in- 
organic state to that of fragmentary composition, and 
of organic life, and hence the name — transition. The 
lower part of this series contains only the remains of 
marine animals of the lowest order, while the upper 
contains the remains of land or rather of marsh vege- 
tables, plainly indicating a transition from water to 
dry land previous to the deposition of the coal beds. 
The upper part of the series contains our antliracite 
coal beds, which are considered as dividing it from 
the secondary. It also contains immense quantities 
of the casts and impressions of plants, which fully 
prove that they existed at the time in great numbers, 
whether our coal beds are made up of them or not. 

" The rocks of the secondary series are less ehrys- 
taline in their appearance than the transition, and 
seem to be composed of the fragments of other roclvs 
ground up and comminuted, and then deposited from 
some suspending medium. They appear to owe their 
formation more to mechanical than to chemical means. 
The bituminous coal measures form the lowest beds 
of this series, and the chalk the highest. They con- 
tain immense quantities of the remains of vegetables, 
and of marine and land animals of the higher orders 
and the most gigantic sizes — plainly indicating the 
increase of dry land. 

' " The tertiary series are principally made up of the 
preceding, and only contains the imperfect or brown 
coal. 

'■'• The diluvial is merely the effect of currents pass- 
ing over the surface of the earth and sweeping away 
the debris of rocks and other formations. Peat or 
turf belongs to this formation, if it can properly be 
said to belong to any. 



,336 HISTORY OF SCHUYLKILL COUNTY. 

« The rocks formed in the first geological age are 
^conceived to owe their present state to the combined 
effects of immense heat and pressure, and thus to be 
chemically united. In the next, or transition age, 
they appear to have been deposited from some sus- 
pending medium, and to owe their present state part- 
ly to the action of chemical and partly to mechanical 
laws ; while in the secondary series they are wholly 
mechanical, except so far as they are held together 
by the attraction of cohesion. 

" Carbon is most probably an original ingredient 
in the composition of our rocks, and was not origi- 
nally formed by any process of vegetation. Ii is 
found in the primary limestones and other primary 
rocks, and in many transition rocks that were formed 
previous to the existence of plants. In limestones it 
forms about one-eight of their weight. Could the 
carbon be separated from the limestone in the calca- 
reous ranges of the Jura and the Alps in Europe, it 
would form a bed of pure carbon of nearly one thou- 
sand feet in thicknsss, throughout the vast extent of 
those mountains. The whole formation of the tran- 
sition and primary limestones of Pennsyh'ania may 
cover an area of ten thousand miles, and will perhaps 
average four thousand feet in tbickness. The carbon 
of this would form a bed of more than five hundred 
feet thick over the whole extent. All these rocks 
were formed prior to the existence of plants. Carbon 
exists in these rocks in the state of carbonic acid com- 
bined v/ith lime or other bases, and it is somewhat 
remarkable, that with the exception of the coal beds, 
'It is nowhere found in an uncombined state. 

" Neither do we know of any remains of beds of 
its combinations, from whence it could have been 
hberated by any of the agents that have been instru- 
mental in forming tbe rocks that envelope the coal 
beds, so far as our knowledge of these agents ex- 
"tends. Heat will expel the carbonic acid from its 
combinations with lime or other earths, metals, &c. '-, 



HISTORY •6p SCHUYLKILL COUNTY. 337 

kiiit it requires some other process, some other agency 
to separate the carbon from this combination with 
'oxygen. We know of nothing that will effect this 
but the process of vegetation ; it having been proved 
by direct experiment, that plants, during their growth, 
absorb carbonic acid, and give out oxygen, thus re- 
taining the carbon which manifestly forms a great 
portion of their bulk. 

" Admitting therefore, as we cheerfully do, the prior 
existence of carbon, it does not assist us in the inquiry 
how the immense masses of carbon that constitute 
the coal strata were collected together, unless we re- 
sort to the agency of vegetables. How they are 
formed from these, we are in a great measure igno- 
rant, and perhaps always will be, but we may at least 
be permitted to offer a conjecture. 

" Carbon may have existed in the interior of the 
earth, and have been expelled from thence by the 
great internal heat now generally admitted to have 
existed in the earlier stages of its formation, in the 
form of carbonic acid gas, (the common choke damp 
'or black damp of our mines and wells) this may have 
so filled the atmosphere as to render it -unfit to support 
animal life, while it furnished the most suitable food 
for plants. It is also very probable that much less 
mould or earth may have covered the rocky strata in 
those early ages than at present, and that plants must 
have lived more by absorbing carbon from the air 
through their leaves, than from the earth through 
their roots. That such was the primitive condition 
of the atmosphere, and that it was gradually purified 
by the growth of plants, seems not to be improbable 
from the circumstance, that previous to their existence, 
the animated races were confined to the water, and 
were of the lowest orders to whom a breathing ap- 
paratus is not necessary ; to these succeeded reptiles 
and cold-blooded animals, which can enjoy and en- 
dure an atmosphere that would be fatal to warm- 
blooded animals and to man. These reptiles did noi 
V 



338 HISTORY OP SCHUYLKILL COUNTY. 

appear until after the deposition of the coal strata^ 
and it is further probable that it required many gen-- 
erations of plants to render the air respirable for birds 
and beasts, as it is not. until long after that any ves- 
tiges of these races. are found. These were the im- 
mediate precursors, of the human race, the sovereigns 
of a world which they underprize, and of which they 
little know the wonderful structure, or the surpasing 
beauty. 

" At the epoch of the coal formation, the vegetatica 
that covered the earth was of the most luxuriant 
growth and gigantic size, as is evidenced by their rer 
mains found in the adjoining strata. Plants, such as 
ferns and equisiti, which are at present classed with 
the grasses, then attained to the stature and size of 
trees. It consisted, in the temperate and colder 
countries of Europe and America, of genera and 
species of plants now only found' in the tropical coun- 
tries. We can at this day scarcely form an idea of the 
amount of vegetation annually produced by the com- 
bined influence of heat, maisture and carbonic acid 
gas. 

" In the upper or diluvialformation, we find peai^ 
which is unquestionably of vegetable origin, as it is 
now forming from vegetables in various parts of the 
world ; and yet fully formed peat has as little the ap* 
pearanceof vegetables as most kinds of coal. It is 
also remarkable that the further peat is removed from 
all traces of vegetable organization^ (within certain 
limits) the better it answers . for,, fuel. In peat we 
have an instance of the formation of fuel from vege- 
tables, but which has jio trace of a vegetable left, by 
a mineralizing process that is jiJst as little understood, 
and IS just as; inexplicg.ble. as, the process by which 
vegetables have been, converted into mineral coal. 
Would it then be. reasonable^would it be philosophi- 
cal to deny the vegetable origin of coal, merely be- 
cause we are unable to explain the process by which 
it. has been reduced to its present state ? 



HISTORY OF SCHUYLKILL COUNTY. 339 

« Owing to the great opacity of coal, all attempts to 
Qxamine its structure by the aid of the microscope 
proved abortive, until Mr. Witham, an English ex- 
perimentalist, lately suggested and practised with 
singular success, the method of cutting from fossil 
stems, transversely and longitudinally, thin slices, and 
having them cemented to glass, polished them so as 
to render their internal structure strikingly conspicu- 
ous under the microscope. Slices of coal treated in 
this manner, exhibited in some parts distinct traces of 
woody texture, in others where the texture of the 
original plant could not be distinguished, cells filled 
with a light yellow colored matter, apparently of a 
bituminous nature and very, volatile, were percepti- 
ble. The number. and appearance of those cells vary 
with each variety of coal ; in the finest portions, 
where the chrystaline structure, as indicated by the 
rhomboidal form of its fragmenls, is most developed, 
the cells are completely obliterated ; the texture be- 
ing uniform and compact, and the whole arrangement 
indicating a more perfect union of the constituents, 
and a more entire destruction of the original texture 
of the plant. These cells are conjectured to be de- 
rived from the reticular texture of the parent vegeta- 
ble, rounded and confused by enormous pressure. 

« The extreme rarity of the impressions of plants 
in coal when properly considered is no proof that it 
is not of vegetable origin, but rather one of the 
strongest arguments in favor of such an- hypothesis, 
when taken in connection with the profuse vegetation 
of that period. Vegetables at the time of the coal 
formation were principally of the vascular, crypto 
gamic class ; that is, allied to reeds, flags, ferns, &c., 
with but few of a woody structure. , It is stated that 
out of 260 species discovered in the coal measures^ 
only forty were of the latter class. All traces of ve- 
getable texture would be likely to be destroyed in the 
conversion of a mass of such vegetables into coal 
P>or if coal has been formed from > vegetables, it wa^ - 



340 HISTORY OF SCHUYLKILL COUNTY. 

by some mineralizing process, that has, in conjunction 
with enormous pressure, destroyed the vegetable tex- 
ture, particularly of the soft and vascular plants, 
hence it is only from some peculiar concurrence of cir« 
cumstances that impressions of vegetables have been 
retained. Whereas, if it owes its formation, like the 
rocks that surround it, to the mere precipitation and 
consolidation of its component parts, and like them 
been derived from similar materials in another form, 
we ought reasonably to expect to find the same im- 
pressions of plants as in the surrounding shales. All 
were once equally soft alike, and ought therefore to 
retain similar impressions. 

" Thus we have the fullest proof that the subject is 
capable of, in the present state of our knowledge, 
that in all the different varieties of fossil fuel from 
peat to atithracite, vegetables did exist at the time of 
their formation and in immediate contiguity with the 
beds. 

" The materials composing the strata above and 
below the coal, are composed of fragments of rocks 
that previously existed, or of the same materials with 
those rocks. 

" Specimens of the same kinds still exist — some of 
them in the greatest profusion ; but we have no re^ 
mains of beds of carbon in the older rocks, from 
whence our coal beds might have been derived. Nei- 
ther do we know of any process in nature, except 
vegetation, by which carbon can be liberated from 
most of its combinations. Vegetables are in a great 
measure composed of carbon, and so is coal ; some 
kinds of coal show evident traces of woody texture; 
and as before observed, we have the most abundant 
proof that plants flourished and fell in immense quan- 
tities at the time of the coal formation ; the simplest 
and plainest, and therefore the most philosophic in- 
ference is, that it is derived from this source." 

All these arguments, while they evince much re- 



HISTORY OF SCHUYLKILL COUNTY. 341 

search and labor, bear the impress of sound philoso- 
phical reasoning, and address themselves to the con- 
sideration of scientific and practical men, as being 
free of hypothesis and possessing less of a theoretical 
tone than the many other suppositions, which at dif- 
ferent periods have been forced upon the observation.. 
To continue the arguments in support of the vege- 
table origin of coal : 

" There can be no question that the Bovey or Brown 
coal, found in Great Britain, is composed principally 
of the trunks and branches of trees, as in some spe- 
cimens the vegetable fibre or grain of the wood is dis- 
cernable at one end, while the other is reduced to coal. 
Almost all the varieties of this coal contain, besides 
carbon and bitumen, a portion of resin and other un- 
altered vegetable products. This brown coal, if pow- 
dered, and put into an iron tube, covered with Stour- 
bridge clay, and then submitted to a red heat, will be 
converted into a substance having all the external 
character and chemical properties of mineral coal, 
and the clay will be converted into coal shale. This 
experiment has been tried with specimens of the coal 
having at one end of the piece the complete remains 
of the wood. 

"Every coal district has its peculiar series of strata 
unconnected with any other — while there is a great 
resemblance in the nature of the different beds in 
each. A district with its peculiar series is called a 
field. Coal fields are generally of but limited extent, 
and the strata frequently dip ta a common centre, 
being often arranged in basin shaped concavities, 
which appear in many cases to have been originally 
detached lakes that were gradually illed up by re- 
peated depositions of carbonaceous and mineral mat- 
ter. In some of the larger coal fields the original 
form of the lake cannot be so distinctly traced ; their 
present form seems rather to be owing to the up-rising 
of the strata on which the coal measures rest, and by 
which they are, as it were, enveloped. Thus in our 



342 HISTORY OP SCHUYLKILL COUNTY. 

own region, if we admit tlie strata to have been ori- 
ginally deposited in a horizontal position or nearly so, 
(and we can hardly conceive how they could have 
been deposited in any other position) their present 
inclined situation must be owing to the subsequent 
up-rising of the rooky strata that compose the Broad 
and Sharp mountains. But- in many of the smaller 
ones the basin shape is distinctly preserved. 

"The coal strata were doubtless deposited in the 
vicinity of extensive tracts of dry land containing 
rivers, marshes, fresh water lakes and mountains. — 
The marine beds, which are the foundation of the 
series of coal strate and also surround them, must 
therefore have been raised from the bottom of the 
ancient deep before the vast accumulations of vegeta- 
ble matter constituting the coal beds could have been 
formed. 

" The remains of vegetables found in the coal strata 
belong to families of plants that abound at present 
chiefly in tropical countries, such as gigantic ferns 
and equisitums (or horsetail) with jointed stems like 
reeds, and hence called calamities ; and lycopodia, or 
plants allied to the tree. In some instances, the coal 
is decidedly formed of such plants, and from their 
sometimes being found erect, we may infer that they 
grew near the place their remains are now found. 

"Another inference from these facts is, that the 
earth must have possessed a much higher temperature 
at the time of the fcrmation of the coal than at the 
present, and hence vegetables may have grown in 
the most profuse abundance and of the most gigantic 
size. More may have been produced at one crop 
then, than in ten at the present day. And through 
the influence of the greater chemical energy that un- 
doubtedly existed at that time, may have been pre- 
served from the rapid decay which takes place atth« 
present time, and hence great masses — the product 
efmany successive crops, may have been accumulate 



HISTORY 0F SCHUYLKILL COUNTY. 343 

ed, ready to undergo the unknown process by which 
they were converted into beds of coal, when the ap- 
l^ointed time came for this to take place." 

Having thus given our readers by way of introduc- 
tion of the more local articleswhichwill follow, many 
valuable facts in respect to the origin and formation 
of coal, which hai^e never, yet been published, we 
shall proceed in our next to describe the peculiarities 
and developments of the coal fields,, as far as the care- 
fully collated experience of others, added to our own 
observation, will enable us, 

SCHUYLKILL COAL FIELD. 

Under the head of " The Coal Region," we gave 
a long and carefully written essay upon the origin 
and formation of ccal, the point of which went to 
prove that this valuable staple was originally a vege- 
table substance. We might continue the reasoning 
by the addition of a great number of interesting proofs 
and experiments, but as this course would be tiresome 
to many of our readers, and as. we think the conclu- 
sion was fully proven, we forbear any father allusion 
to that matter. 

The point we arrive at, and the peculiarities men- 
tioned as accompanying the coal formation, will apply 
' directly to all the anthracite coal beds in the state ; 
but as these articles were written for the purpose of 
more familiarly introducing a particular description 
of our own region, usually denominated the " Schuyl- 
kill Coal Field," weshaU fallow out the intention per- 
haps abruptly. 

It may in the first place be well to remark, that all 
©ur anthracite coal fields, are, in the opinion of many 
scientific gentlemen, who have spent much time in 
investigating the matter, but part of an original great 
tbrmation, which, at some period, has been separated 
by the disturbance of the underlaying strata. 



344 HISTORX 0F SCHUYLKTLI„ COUNTY. 

That part called the Schuylkill Coal Field, of whicfci 
we now intend tq, speak, is about sixty-five miles in. 
length, and about four miles and a half in its greatest 
breadth, which is in the vicinity of Pottsville. This, 
basin resembles in shape a long eliptical or oval 
trough, narrowing off towards the ends with the ex- 
ception of the western portion which is divided into, 
two narrow prongs. This basin is bomided by the 
Broad mountain on the north, and by the Sharp 
mountain on the south, which boundaries are cut 
through, or penetrated at different points by various 
streams which pass through them into the coal forma-, 
lion. Beginning at the eastern portion, it is penetra- 
ted first by the Little Schuylkill at Tamaqua — the 
Mill creek at Port Carbon — rthe river Schuylkill at 
Pottsville — the West Branch of the: Schuylkill at 
Minersville--the Siyatara creek at Pinegrove— and tlie 
Wisconisco and Stony creeks at the extreme western 
portion of the elipsis. These creeks and streams af- 
ford admirable natural outlets for the coal, and favo- 
rable sites fo^ the location of railroads, which are 
already laid down, and in operation through nearly 
all these passes. Of these, however, we shall speak 
hereafter. 

This coal field is everywhere surroimded and rests. 
on a thick stratum of rock composed of coarse and 
rounded pebbles, cemented together, commonly called 
pudding stone or conglomerate, which forms, as it 
were, an outer bed, or trough, inside of which are 
the various seams, or as they are more . commonly 
called veins of coal. These veins ox beds, of coal lie 
at about every angle, from horizontal to perpendicu- 
lar, but most generally, in the central part of the field, 
dip at an angle varying from tv/enty-five to forty de-. 
grees with the horizon. They are separated from 
each other by ditlerent stratas of sandstone and slate, 
which are of various thicknesses. 

From examinations made across the centre of the 
:^eld, aided by the number, already worked, it is ascer-.. 



HISTORY OF SCHUYLKILL COUNTY. 345, 

tained that we have in this basin about ninety-five 
veins or strata of coal, and it is probable that we have 
n0:t 5'"et arrived at sufficient information, by which to 
determine the exact number. These veins run in the 
direction of the length of the region, and vary in 
thickness from two feet to forty or fifty feet — nearly 
aU of them extend for many miles in length, and some 
of them, unquestionably, extend under the whole coal 
field. Lying inclined, as they generally do, one edge 
reaches the surface of the gronnd, where it is called 
the " out-cropping" of the coal, and the other extends 
to an unknown depth in the earth. These beds, or 
veins of coal, form as much a part of the rock forma- 
tion of the coal field, as strata of slate or limestone 
do the rock formation of other parts of the country, 
and are as little Ijkely to be exhausted. Both may 
be worked to a depth that will cease to remunerate 
tlie operator, but the part taken away will scarcely 
be a fragment of that which woi>ld be left. If we 
suppose the whole number of veins to be equal to 
$fty veins of six feet thickness, fifty miles in length, 
and extending to an unknown depth in the earth, 
some idea may be formed of the supplies our coal 
field can furnish, and the little probability there is of 
exhausting them in our day. 

Our coal field is situated on, the head waters of the 
Schuylkill and the Swatara, and the surface may be 
described as broken into high hills and deep ravines. 
Many of these cross the country in a direction nearly 
at right angles with the course of the veins of coal, 
hence rendering access, to them very easy. 

COAL MINING. 

To proQure coal from one of these \'eins^.a point- 
is fixed upon where it crosses a ravine, and an 
opening is made in the vein at such a height 
tliat the \Yater coming out of it may freely pass off' 
into, the adjoining streai^. This opening may be. 



?46 HISTORY or SCHUYLKILL COUNTT. 

about six or seven feet square — is well secured by 
timber and is continued horizontally through tlie 
earth and soft coal, which is usually found near the 
out-erop of the vein. In this opening or " drift,^^ as 
it is technically called, a railroad is laid and continued 
after the workmen, as they proceed, and when they 
have penetrated so far into the vein that the coal is 
found hard enough to be transported to market, the 
mining commences. The methods of mining vary 
according to circumstances — we will describe one. 
The reader will imagine a bed of solid coal, ^^.y six 
feet thick in cross sections, lying inclined in the earth, 
at an angle of thirty degrees, resting on a greysiatey 
rock, called, " bottom slate,^' and covered by a bed 
of black slate, called " top slate^' — this latter to con- 
sist of one immense continuous mass, with but few 
fissures in it. These strata of coal and slate, preserve 
their thickness or parallelism, or nearly so. Into the 
bed of coal an-opening, or " drift," has been made, as 
above described, say at the depth of 200 feet beloAV 
the " out-croppii^g" of the coal on the top of the hill, 
at a point on the side of this drift to^vards the rise of 
the coal. An opening is cut into the coal six feet 
wide, and extending from slate to slate. This open- 
ing may be continued up fifteen feet— it is then widen- 
ed out to forty feet, and a trough or schute of plank, 
say four feet wide, is laid in it. The lower end of 
this trough is placed high enough for a small or drift 
car (usually containing about one ton of coal) to pass 
under it. The coal is then loosened by cutting away 
a portion of it next to the bottom slate with small 
picks, or as it often happens, there is a thin stratum of 
-soft carbonaceous slate near the bottom of the bed 
which is cut away, instead of the coal. This opera- 
tion is called undermining, and is extended five or six 
feet under the body of the coal (which is temporarily 
supported by-small props) or as far is thought safe by 
the workmen. The portion of coal thus imdermined, 
is then brought down by means of wedges and 
•kivers, and freqviently by blasting Avith powdefo 



HISTORY OP SCHUYLKILL COUNTY. 347 

Wherx it is broken sufficiently small, to be handled 
with facility, it is placed in the plank schiite, down 
which it descends by its own gravity — is readily 
passed into the car, and drawn out to the mouth of 
the drift by horses or mules. The " top slate," or 
roof of the mine is kept from scaling off or injuring 
the men by placing wooden props at suitable inter- 
vals, and the space from which the- coal is taken as 
much as possible filled up with refuse matter. Tl^e 
portion of the vein, above described, which we called 
forty feet ^yide, is denominated a working or 
" breast,^' and is generally operated in, by three or 
four men, and the coal is usually taken out as far up 
the breast, as it is merchantable. As soon as the coal 
has been mined from it for a few yards in the up- 
ward direction, another breast may be opened at tl>e 
distance of forty feet, and the work conducted in pre- 
cisely the same manner. If the drift before mention- 
ed, or ^^ gangway," as it is some times called, has 
been carried sufficiently in advance, the breasts may 
be opened one after another, so that the gangs of men 
working in them may appear like a large company 
of mowers, extending from the drift or gangway into 
the extreme upper part. This kind of mining is tech- 
nically termed " working above the water-level." 
The water-level, meaning in miner's language, the 
lowest point in a bed of coal, from v/hich the water 
will run into the adjacent streams, and must of course 
vary exceedingly with the different localities. It must 
be evident that by an arrangement of this kind, a great 
number of hands can be employed in a mine when- 
ever the demand for coal will warrant it, and also 
that it can be worked by a very few. As was before 
observed, there are several other plans of mining 
suited to the circumstances of the different veins of 
coal. 

In mining below the water-level, after deciding up- 
on some suitable point for the works, an inclined 
siiaft, or "slope" asit is commonly called, is worked 



348 HISTORY- OP SCHUYLKILL COUNTY. 

down the bed of coal to any depth thought desirable^ 
(which we may state at 275 feet,) and wide enough 
for a double track raih'oad, and pwnp barrell, say 
dghteen feet. At the top of this slope a steam engine 
must be erected of sufficient power to draw up the 
coal and pump up the water. Near the bottom of 
this slope, drifts oi gangways, are worked into the 
coal, to the right and left, in which rsiilroads are laid ; 
and the whole process of mining, &c., is conducted in 
precisely the same manner as above water-level, ex- 
cept that the coal is hauled by horses to the bottom 
of the slope only, and is afterwards drawn up into 
day-light by the st'cam engine at the^ top. 

Having now given our readers, as preliminary 5. 
sufficient information to induct them into the peculi- 
arities of our operations, we shall proceed, in comiec- 
tion with the topography of our region, to give a 
particular description of the different mines. 

SCHUYLKILL VALLEY DISTRICT. 

The coal lies in veins between the red shale of the 
Broad mountain, and that of the Sharp mountain. 
The width of the basin decreases materially as it pro- 
gresses east, thus carrying out completely the form of 
g,n elipsis, which circles about at Mauch Chunk, where 
the coal is. found at the narrowest point, in one com- 
plete mass. 

In undertaking a description of this coal field, we 
have taken in only that portion, for our present arti- 
cles, which rests between the line of the Little Schuyl-- 
kill Company's land at Tuscarora, and the Swatara. 
We shall then commence at Tuscarora and follow the 
liange of veins in a westerly direction until we have- 
completed our task. 

The Schuylkill Valley district is penetrated in a 
(iirection almost parallel with the veins for a distance- 
of ten miles by the river Schuylkill The canal ceases, 



HISTORY OF SCHUYLKILL COUNTY. 349 

'at Port Carbon, and the only way of reaching th6 
boats with the coal, is by means of the Schuylkill 
Valley railroad, which extends along the course of 
the stream the whole length of the district. This com- 
pany Was first chartered in 1S2S as a Navigation 
Company, to be styled, " The Schuylkill Valley Na- 
vigation Company." The act authorizing them to 
lay a railroad was not passed, however, until Janu- 
ary, 1829, and the road was not commenced until 
some time during that year. It has always been sup- 
posed, and no man who understands the topography 
of the district, can doubt it, that this road will in a 
short time become the most important and valuable 
in the whole district, and the reason for this opinion 
is easily explained. The railroad follows the direc- 
tion of the stream for ten miles as before stated — this 
road crosses from twelve to fifteen natural ravines 
which penetrate the whole basin at right angles with 
the veins. Each ravine will thus develope nearly as 
much coal field as either of the other railroads in the 
county, and all that is required for the purpose of in- 
ducing this consequence is the construction of a good 
and permanent railway in the stead of the presenti 
Up these ravines are laid several railroads, of which 
we shall speak in their order — but to proceed with 
our intention. 

The first colliery at the eastern end of the district, 
is at the head of the Schuylkill Valley railroad — is 
worked in at the foot of the Locust mountain above 
Tuscarora, and is called 

THE TUSCARORA COLLIERIES. 

The property upon which these collieries are loca- 
ted belongs to the Schuylkill Bank — it contains about 
106 acres, and extends in width from the Sharp to 
the Locust mountain, and reaches in length about 1^ 
miles on the range of the veins. The distance from 
the mouth of the drift to the shipping J)oint at Port 



S60 HISTORY OF SCHUYLKILL COUNTY'. 

Carbon, is. ten miles. The openin-gSj as we before 
stated, are made in the Locust mountain, and the 
veins are supposed to be the same as those found in the 
Broad mountain, at New Castle. These veins (the 
Jugular and Daniels) follow the course of the Broad 
mountain eastwardly to Patterson, where it intersects 
with the Locust mountain. The Broad mountain at 
that point leaves the direction and takes a north-east- 
erly course, and the Locust mountain, being the regu- 
lar prolongation, carries the same veins on to Tama- 
qua. The opening upon the veins is made by a tmi- 
nell, which is 175 yards in length, and cresses three 
veins — the Greer Vein, another White Ash Vein, and 
the Tuscarora Vein, . averaging in thickness 9 feet 
each. The latter of these veins, is the principal one 
now worked — it has been operated in for 12 years-, 
by Wallace & Co., who have driven the gangway 
for 900 yards aii^d have taken out from it an immense 
quantity of excellent coal. These mines are now 
leased by Mr. James Palmer, who in 1842 and 1843 
mined from it about 6000 tons yearly. Mr. Palmer 
informs us that if the vein is in good order, and the 
state of the railroad such as to permit it, he could 
mine and send to market 10,000 tons of coal annual- 
ly from the Tuscarora vein. These veins all pitch 
south about 65 degrees, and command about 120 feet 
of breasting above the water-level. 

BELMONT COLLIERIES. 

These collieries are located upon the Valley rail- 
road, about one mile west from Tuscarora, and nine 
miles from Port Carbon, near the point where the 
railroad crosses the Schuylkill. The tract, which be- 
longs to Samuel Bell, Esq., of Reading, contains be* 
tween 400 and 500 acres. The veins-have a north 
pitch of about 80 degrees,, are from 4 to 7 feet in 
tliicknoss, and command about, CO feet breasting- 
ThesG .mines are operated in. by Aquilla Bolton, Esq., . 



HISTORY OP SCHUYLKILL COUNTY. 351 

and are in first rate working order. There are al- 
ready opened upon this tract two veins, in addition 
to which five more have been proven, which can be 
opened at any time when it may be deemed advisa- 
ble. The openings have been made a distance of 350 
yards on each vein, in addition to which is about 40 
yards of tunnel cutting' across two veins. The dis- 
tance between the veins is about 19 yards. The 
range of veins extends through this tract for about 1? 
miles, and judging from the number already proven, 
along with their extent, the supply of coal which 
might be derived from this land is almost incalcula- 
ble. There can be mined from each vein at present, 
30 tons per day, and with the proper encouragement, 
and a good railroad, this amount mighc be increased 
to a much greater ratio. Mr. Bolton is one of our 
most enterprizing operators, has been for many- years 
engaged in the business, and is the proprietor of sevi- 
eral valuable collieries in this district, of which we 
shall speak in their turn. 

KINSLEY'S COLLIERIES. 

The next mines in order is a new working, com*- 
menced by Mr. Hugh Kinsley, of Port Carbon, upon 
the Robb & Winebrenner tract, about 65 miles from 
Port Carbon, in^a spur of the Sharp mountain, called 
the Bear Ridge. The attempt was made a number 
of years ago to work this mine by B. Patterson, Esq., 
but as the vein appeared to be very small, the work-r 
ing was deserted. 

The vein, as Mr. Kinsley has now opened it, is 
aboiU 4 feet thick, and of a south pitch. He has 
made about .76 yards of drift into the vein, and hag 
about 120 feet breastuig. The- coal iaa red ash, and 
is supposed to be the Spohn Vein.- The reason for 
this belief, in addition to the quality and appearance 
of the coal, which is identical, is the existence in this 
Jr,act, of a singular feature, which only accompanies 



352 HISTORY OF SCHUYLKILL COUNTY. 

that vein. This is a small vein of coal, not more thaik 
9 inches thick, which always overlays the main vein, 
and frequently serves to dishearten operators, with 
the belief that they have found the principal vein. 
It was this vein, or " the Leader of the Spohn," as it 
is called, which occasioned the desertion of this tract, 
many years ago ; the miners mistook the leader for 
the principal vein, and abandoned it on account of 
its unprofitableness. Mr. Kinsley has about 120 yards 
of lateral road to connect his mines with the main 
road, in addition to which he has already laid 200 
feet of plank road, and 104 yards of timber road. The 
length of range upon the vein is 1| miles. 

FREEMAN'S COLLIERIES. 

Proceeding down the railroad, the next operation 
is a small working made into the hill, on the north of 
the road, about i mile above Middleport, and 6| miles 
from Port Carbon. This operation is carried on by 
Mr. Patrick Freeman. The vein is called the Spohn 
Vein — varies in thickness from 4 to 7 feet, and is of 
a south pitch. This work was first commenced about 
twelve years ago, but abandoned ; it was re-com- 
menced in 1S43, by Mr. Freeman, Avho has now pen- 
etrated the hill to the extent of 200 yards, and has 
taken from the vein a Considerable quantity of good 
merchantable Coal. 

Between Freeman's mines and Middleport, there 
are no intervening collieries. At Middleport there 
'occurs a long ravine, at right angles with the veins 
through which runs the Casca-William creek. Messrs. 
Olwine & Davis laid a railroad along this creek, about 
five years and a half ago, whirih is now in tolerable 
good order, and serves as a medium for the transpor- 
tatic^n of all the coal mined in its course. 



HISTORY OF SCHUYLKILL COUNTY. 35v 



UREN'S COLLIERIES. 

The first colliery we arrive at in passing up this 
road is that worked by Mr. Henry Uren, who has 
opened two dritts upon the Spohn & Lewis veins, 
at a distance of about half a mile from the valley 
railroad. These workings were commenced in the 
fall of 1842, and have been continued successfully 
and profitably ever since. The Spohn vain, at this 
point, averages in thickness from four to eleven feet, 
and the Lewis vein, from foilr to four and a half feet. 
Both workings are in excellent order, and the quality 
of the coal is unexceptionable. The height of breast- 
ing upon the Spohn vein is ninety yards — upon the 
Lewis fifty yards. The gangway has been driven on 
the Spohn, to a distance of 300 yards, and on the 
Lewis about 200 yards— both veins are of a north 
pitch. Mr. Uren tells us that if the demand would 
warrant it, and the railroad to Port Carbon was such 
as to permit it, he could mine and send down from 
each vein, at least sixty tons per day. This property 
belongs to the Valley Furnace Tract, and is leased 
?3y Mr. Uren. 

THOMPSON & PENNMAN'S COLLIERIES. 

The next colliery in regular order as we pass up 
Ihe Casca- William road, is Thompson & Pemiman'sj 
who are operating on the Jidam Stahl tract, in the 
Veins which were opened by J. C. Circovius, about 
four years ago. These veins are supposed to be the 
Peach mountain veins — the coal is red ash, of supe- 
rior quality, and has a high reputation abroad. The 
pitch of the vein is irregular. Messrs. Thompson & 
Pennman are now working the drifts, designated as 
No. 1, and No. 2. They have penetrated about 300 
yards into each, and are taking out beautiful coal. 
W 



354 HISTORY OF SCHUYLKILL COUNTY. 



PATRICK'S COLLIERIES. 

These are carried on by Mr. John Patrick, who 
connects with the Casca-WilUam's road, by about 
half a mile of lateral railway, and is about one mile 
from Middleport. The vein, which is in good order, 
and producing excellent coal, is about 4^ feet thick, 
commands 50 yards of breasting, and is worked in, 
by gangway, to the distance of about 200 yards. 
The property upon which these mines are located, 
belongs to Messrs. Tams & McCanles, and is estimat- 
ed as valuable. 

As we proceed up the Casca- William's road, the 
next and last colliery we arrive at, is 

THE MUSIC HALL COLLIERIES. 

These mines are worked by Messrs. Spayd & Lur- 
ther, at the extreme end or head of the Casca- Wil- 
liam's road, about 3 miles from Middleport. The 
term "Music Hall," originated thus — one of the 
houses built upon the land was occupied by a num- 
ber of Germans, who papered one of the rooms, (an 
unusual thing in that district) and amused themselves. 
in that room with various musical instruments — 
hence the name. Messrs. Spayd & Luther are work- 
ing but one vein — ^it is first quality white ash, and 
is known as the Raven vein. This vein is twenty 
feet thick, pitches nearly perpendicular, and is work- 
ed differently from any other vein in the region. 
They have already penetrated into the vein a distance 
of about half a mile, and taken out from it an im- 
mense quantity of excellent coal. Messrs. S. & L. 
have erected a platform at their mines for breaking 
coal, which is done upon a laoige iron plate, about 6 



HISTORY OF SCHUYLKILL COUNTY. 355 

feet by 20 feet, having octagonal holes the size of the 
coal they wish to prepare. There are schutes ar- 
ranged above the platform for the purpose of distri- 
buting the coal fairly over it, and the whole arrange- 
ment works admirably. We are assured that 20,000 
tons of coal annually can be mined from the Raven 
vein, if the demand should warrant it. Connected 
with this colliery are 18 houses for miners' dwellings, 
along with other necessary buildings. The tract con- 
tains about 244 acres, and is owned by the operators, 
Messrs. Spayd & Luther, There are several other 
veins upon it, of both red and white ash, which have 
never yet been opened. 

The Casca- William's railroad is, in whole length, 
about two miles, and is kept in good order by the 
operatives who use it. 

Passing down the Schuylkill Valley railroad from 
Middleport, which was the last point mentioned, we 
meet with no collieries until we come to Lick run, a 
distance of 4^ miles from Port Carbon, and U miles 
from Middleport. A lateral road is laid up this run 
for a space of 550 yards in length, atthe extreme end 
of which we come to 



LICK RUN COLLIERIES. 

These veins belong to the Valley furnace tract, and 
are leased to John Curry, Esq., who leases to Whe- 
lan & Co., who are now working them. The veins, 
which are two, are called Peacock and Peach moun- 
tain. The distance between them is about 20 yards, 
widening apart as the veins enter the mountain. 
Messrs. W. & Co. are now working the Peacock vein, 
by means of a level about 50 feet above the first 
opening. The first drift was driven into the Peacock 
vein, when, after having entered the hill a short dis- 
tance, a tunnel was cut across obliquely in a southern 
direction, which struck the Peach mountain. Botk 



356 HISTORY OF SCHUYLKILL COUNTY. 

veins are of a south pitch. The thickness of the 
Peacock vein is from 7i t© 9 feet, and the Peach 
mountain from 6 to 7 feet. The height of breast from 
the lower to the upper level in the Peacock vein is 
about 150 feet, and about the same height from the 
upper level to the out-cropping. This would give 
100 yards of breasting to the Peach mountain vein, 
which is about the height. These veins were first 
opened in February, 1844 — the operators have just 
got fairly under way, and their prospects now look 
quite flattering. The lateral road, which is in good 
order, was laid by Mr. Curry, who has a lease upon 
the veins for 10 years. The lease authorizes a range 
upon the veins of one mile in length. 

Returning again to the Valley road, we find no col- 
lieries between Lick run and the Silver creek rail- 
road, which comprises an intervening distance of half 
a mile. This latter road is laid along Silver creek 
for a distance of 1| miles, in nearly a northerly di- 
rection. Passing up Silver creek from the Valley 
road, the first working we arrive at, is 

KINSLEY'S COLLIERY. 

This colliery is located about 300 yards from the 
Valley railroad, and is worked in the hill in an east- 
erly direction. The vein is called the Palmer vein, 
from the fact that it was first worked by that estima- 
ble and enterprizing pioneer of the trade. Dr. G. G. 
Palmer. The vein was first opened by Spencer & 
Lawler, about five years ago. It was then leased 
by Dougherty & Colahan, who operated in till last 
]\Iarch, when Mr. Kinsley commenced working it. 
The gangway has been driven east a distance of 130 
yards, and commands about 150 feet of breasting the 
whole of that distance. The coal is an excellent red 
ash, and at present is 3k feet thick in the breasting. 
Tlie property is owned by the Valley furnace com- 



HISTORY OF SCHUYLKILL COUNTY. 357 

paiiy, and extends in a range with the vein to Lick 
run, a distance of about 800 yards. 

The next colliery we arriv^e at whilst passing up 
Silver creek, is 

WILLIAMS & DAVIS' COLLIERY. 

This is located at the Valley furnace, about 200 
yards above Kinsley's, and immediately where the 
stage road to JNIiddleport crosses Silver creek. This 
vien was opened many years ago, and was abandon- 
ed. It was leased by the present firm, about two 
years ago, and they have been operating in it since 
that period. Thej?' have but one opening — the coal 
is red ash, of good quality — three feet in thickness, 
seventy feet breasting, and pitches south. The vein 
has ben worked to a distance of 2S0 yards eastward- 
ly, and commands an additional range of about 600 
yards before reaching Lick run, which is the boun- 
dary. Williams & Davis lease this vein from the 
VaJley Furnace tract. 

Between this colliery and the head of the Silver 
creek railroad, there are several new openings which 
have been lately made by Mr. Gideon Bast, of 
Schuylkill Haven. The veins are red and white ash, 
are in excellent order, and promise to become valua- 
ble and profitable ccllieries. Mr. Bast is busily en- 
gaged in perfecting the operations, and making all the 
necessary improvements for the purpose of getting 
them fairly under way ; and we shall therefore defer 
a more lengthy notice until such time as the arrange- 
ments shall be concluded. The property upon which 
tliese veins are located, is owned by Messrs. Anspach, 
of Philadelphia. The next veins we come to are 
those located at the head of Silver creek railroad, and 
known as 



358 HISTORY OF SCHUYLKILL COUNTY. 



SILVER CREEK COLLIERIES. 

These collieries are carried on by Messrs. Myers 
& Allen, of Port Carbon, and are valuable and exten- 
sive workings. The distance from the mines to the 
Valley Rail Road, is I miles, making the whole dis- 
tance from the point of shipment (Port Carbon) 5i 
miles. Messrs. Myers & Allen are working three 
veins, called the Skidmore, the Raven, and the Silly- 
man veins. They all pitch south about 80 degrees, 
and are worked in the same manner as flatter veins 
are, viz : in breasts, by means of propping, &c. The 
height of the breasting on the Raven and Sillyman is 
about 100 yards — on the Skidmore about S3 yards. 
The length of range upon the veins, according to the 
lease, is about 1| miles. The Skidmore vein is the 
farthest north on this tract, and the Sillyman the 
farthest south. The Skidmore is worked in a west- 
ern direction from the ravine, and the other two are 
worked in an eastern direction. The Skidmore is 9 
feet thick — the Raven 17 feet, and the Sillyman 22 
feet — all in excellent order, and producing some of 
the best white ash coal sent to market. The Skid- 
more has been worked to a distance of five hundred 
yards, the Raven five hundred yards, and the Silly- 
man, six hundred yards. The produce of the two 
latter veins is all brought out through one open- 
ing. They having been reached by tunneling. The 
distance between the Sillyman and Raven being but 
1 1 yards, it required but one length of tunnel from 
the opening made in the former to reach the latter. 
Messrs. Myers & Allen have 14 miners' houses, work 
shops, powder magazines, stabling, &c., &c., attached 
to the operations, which appear to be carried on in- 
dustriously and methodically. We are assured that 
if the demand would warrant it, these gentlemen 



HISTORY OP SCHUYLKILL COUNTY. 359 

could mine 30,000 tons of coal annually from their 
present openings with ease. This property is also 
attached to the Valley Furnace Tract, and is leased 
of that company by the present operators. 

We now return to the junction of the Silver creek 
railroad with the Valley railroad, which is four miles 
from Port Carbon, and pass down the Valley road 
for one mile, to the tract known as the Barlow & 
Evans tract. The veins at this point, have nearly all 
been worked out above water-level, and with the ex- 
ception of two openings, which are worked for Mr. 
A. B. White, the place is abandoned. Whole moun- 
tains of coal dirt and refuse coal surround the old 
drifts, and choke up the ravine, but it is all a momento 
of former greatness. Very little can be done on this 
tract without the aid of stationary engines, and we 
suppose the day is not far distant when the steady 
putf of the steam engine will be heard at this point. 

West of A. B. White's collieries we find no mines 
for the distance of half a mile, when we meet with 

THE UNION COLLIEKIES. 

These collieries are now worked by Messrs. Wil- 
liams & Sillyman, who leased the tract about the mid- 
dle of February, 1844, from the Messrs. Kinsley. 
The veins are the Spohn and Lewis vein, and are 
worked below the water-level, by means of a station- 
ary engine, which is located about half way between 
tlie two openings. This engine was first put up by 
Allen & Lawton, for the purpose of working the 
Lewis vein, down which a slope of 70 yards has been 
worked. Some time afterwards a perpendicular shaft 
was sunken on the Spohn vein, (which lies about SO 
3rards north of the Lewis,) and the engine was re- 
geared, for the purpose of working both veins at the 
same time. This shaft was put down under the di- 
rection of Thos. J. Ridgway, Jr., an experienced engi- 



360 HISTORY OF SCHUYLKILL COUNTY. 

neer of this county, and is found to work admirably. 
It is about 120 feet perpendicular, and the coal is 
raised to the top of the shaft, which is about 40 feet 
above the railroad, by means of chains and pulleys, 
working from a drmii in the engine house. The 
chain is 345 feet in length, and is made strong, and 
capable of bearing a heavy weight. The lessees tell 
us that the chain broke some time since, when the 
car laden with coal was about — from the bottom of 
the shaft, and the crash was tremendous, the car be- 
ing broken into a thousand splinters. No person, 
however, was injured, and we are assured by the op- 
erators that they have not had the slightest accident 
to occur about their mines, from tjie period when they 
first took charge of them. This we thought rather 
singular, as the first impression was, that the working 
of a perpendicular shaft would be much mare danger- 
ous than any other. Both veins will average more 
than four feet in thickness. They pitch south of the 
Spohn 25 degrees, and the Lewis 33 degrees. The 
Lewis vein is now idle and nearly filled with water. 
The oparatives may choose to work it again at some 
future day, but do not design doing so at present ; 
both veins have been worked about 530 ^i-ards in 
length, and the whole- length of range permits a 
working of 900 yards The coal from the Spohn 
vein when brought to the top of the shaft, is unloaded 
into a schute and by means of screans, brakers, &c., 
is prepared for shipment by the time it reaches the 
bottom. The engine used for hoisting and pumping, 
is of 30 horse power, was made by Haywood & Sny- 
der, and is said to be one of the very best pieces of 
machinery in the country. 

The surrounding houses upon the tract, make quite 
a town in appearadce, and the place is better known 
in this county by the Welsh name of " Cumbola,'^ 
than any other. 

On the same t^-act, about 200 yards north of Wil- 
liams &. Sillyman^s works, we fi.nd anat<lier colliery 



HISTORY OF SCHUYLKILL COUNTY. 361 

worked also by a stationary engine of about 40 horse 
power. It is on the Clarkson vein, and tlie slope was 
put down in IS 38 or 1S39. The slope was sunken 
and the engine erected by the owners, who leased the 
property to W. Wallace & Co. These gentlemen 
worked the vein for three years, Avhen it was leased 
by Aquilla Bolton, who is now preparing the mines 
for more extensive operation. The vein is a most 
excellent red-ash coal, from 4 to 6 feet in width, and 
is a south pitch of 35 degrees. The tract comprises 
an extent of about 300 acres. 

IVIr. Bolton is also working the Spohn vein, above 
the water-level upon the same tract. 

The next tract of coal land west of Cumbola is 
known as the Belmont tract. It is owned by James 
Bell, Esq., of Reading, and contains about 650 acres. 
This tract comprises within its limits a number of very 
valuable veins among which are the Salem, Rabbit 
Hole, Faust, Tunnell, Black Mine, North and South 
Gate, Lewis, Spohn, Palmer, Chas. Pott, and Clark- 
son veins. The completion of the Port Carbon and 
Tuscarora railway will add greatly to the present 
value of the tract. 

BELMONT COLLIERIES. 

This colliery is worked by our fellow-townsman^ 
James C. Oliver, Esq., who leases the veins from 
Samuel Bell, Esq., the owner. The vein which Mr. 
Oliver now works, is the Lewis vein, and is about 5 
feet thick. It is in first rate order, and pitches south. 
The coal is a prime red ash, and cannot be surpassed 
by any vein in the district, for quaUty. This vein is 
worked by means of a slope and a stationary engine. 
The slope was put down and the engine erected some 
time in January, 1S44. The length of the slope is; 
about 115 yards. The engine, which is about fifty 
horse power, was made by Maginnis — it is an excel 



362 H/:sTORT or schutlkill county. 

lent piece of machinery, and the engineer tells us 
there is no better in the country — it hoists the coal 
and works the pumps at the same time. The gang- 
way has been driven in all about 440 feet, that is 
about 220 feet each side of the slope. This vein has 
been entirely worked out above the water-level, by 
Messrs. Bell and Bolton, who have operated there 
for a number of years. The Spohn vein, which is 
also included in Mr. Oliver's lease, lies about 100 
yards north of the Lewis. It is from 4| to 5 feet 
thick, and is in good order. This vein has also been 
worked out above the water-level, by Bell & Bolton, 
many years ago, Mr. Oliver intends working it by 
means of a tunnel, which he will drive from his pre- 
sent gangway into it, and will thus be enabled to 
work both mines, and draw up the produce through 
the same slope, and by the same engine. The length 
of range upon these veins is about 1200 yards. 

Mr. Oliver is about erecting one of Battin's break- 
ing machines at his colliery, which is one of the most 
complete we have ever seen. The engine whi^h 
drives the rollers is of 20 horse power, made by Ma- 
ginnis. There are two setts of rollers — the teeth of 
the upper set being much wider apart than the teeth 
of the lower, Mr. Oliver has improved upon the 
nsual method of screening, by having a double screen 
instead of one long screen, as is most generally adopt- 
ed. These screens are fed,eachof them, with a hop- 
per, leading from the breaking machine, and there 
can be no doubt but that it will work admirably. 
The coal, which is thus prepared, is of all sizes, from 
pea to broken. This breaking machine is built on 
the side of the railroad, and is immediately over the 
slope, which pitches south in a direction under it. 
As it is the coal from this slope which Mr. Oliver in- 
tends to break, he has through necessity, hit upon a 
curious method of remedying tjie matter. The wa- 
gons are drawn up to the top of the slope, where they 
rest upon a moveable platform which rises towards 



HISTORY OP SCHUYLKILL COUNTY. 363 

t?ae breaking machine so as to elevate the car upon 
a level with the railroad leading to it. The car is 
then drawn towards the machine by a chain attached 
to a drum, and worked by the same engine which 
drives the rollers. 

Mr.Oliver's mines are superintended by Mr. Dun- 
can Weir, who is an excellent practical man, and has 
derived a very valuable experience in the business 
from having been engaged in mining on the Mine 
Hill, and Schuylkill Haven railroad. The distance 
from the Belmont collieries to Port Carbon is 1§ 
miles. 

We now came to a long deep ravine, which extends 
from the valley railroad, in a northerly direction, for 
a distance of about 2 miles. This railroad crosses 
the veins at right angles, and developes a great quan- 
tity of coal land in its course. It forms a junction 
with the Valley railroad, a short distance below the 
Belmont collieries, at 1| miles from Port Carbon. 
The first working now in operation on this road, as 
we leave the main road, and go north, is by Mr. 
Aquilla Bolton, on the Spohn vein. He is working 
out the upper level, and is at present engaged in re- 
moving pillars of coal, &c. The Spohn vein at this 
point is from 4^ to 5 feet thick — pitches south, and is 
in good order. Mr. Bolton is also working another 
vein, a short distance above this vein, which is about 
tlie same thickness and pitch, and is a first rate red 
ash coal. The next working in regular order as we 
pass up the Eagle Hill railroad, is 

DAVID RICHARD'S COLLIERY. 

This colliery is located on Eagle Hill railroad, about 
I of a mile from the main track of the Valley rail- 
road. Mr. Richards commenced these works about 
4 years ago, and has taken out during that period a 
Tery considerable quantity of good coal. He has two 



364 HISTORY OF SCHUYLKILL COUNTY. 

drifts upon the same vein, each commanding about 
50 yards of breasting. He has driven the upper level 
to the distance of 300 yards, and the lower as far as 
400 yards. The vein, which is an excellent red ash, 
pitches south, and is 4^ feet thick. This vein was 
worked many ^^ears ago, but was abandoned, until 
Mr. Richards took it. It is attached to the Eagle 
Hill tract, and the leases are given by John G. Hewes, 
Esq., of Port Carbon, who is one of the owners, and 
also agent for the tract. 

FITZSIMMON'S COLLIERY. 

This colliery is situated a short distance above the 
last mentioned place, and about one mile from the 
Valley railroad. It is worked by Mr. James Fitz- 
simmons, an enterprizing and practical business man 
of this district. Mr. Fitzsimmons is working a vein 
which is similar in appearance to the Peach moun- 
tain vein. It is from S to 9 feet thick — pitches south, 
and commands about SO yards of breasting. The 
coal is a good red ash, and the vein is in good work- 
ing order. The vein is worked in to the distance of 
600 yards, and the length of range upon the vein is 
about 1000 yards. This vein is also attached to the 
Eagle Hill tract. 

The next colliery on the Eagle Hill railroad, is 
about 200 yards above the last mentioned (Fitzsim- 
mon's) colhery, and is called 

HENDERSON'S COLLIERY. 

This vein is leased by E. Q. & A. Henderson, who 
have been working it for about two years. The vein 
IS an excellent red ash, is from 4^ to 5i feet thick, 
pitches south, and is considered to be the real Peach 
mountain vein. There are two drifts upon this vein 
upon different levels, each drift commanding about 



HISTORY OF SCHUYLKILL COUNTY. 365 

45 yards of breast. They have worked the gangway 
on the lower level to the distance of about 400 yards, 
and on the upper level 250 yards. The length of 
range upon this vein is about 1100 yards. 

This colliery is about one mile from the Valley 
railroad, and about 2 1 miles from the canal at Port 
Carbon. The facilities for transportation are there- 
fore very favorable, and upon the completion of the 
new railroad, collieries in this neighborhood will pos- 
sess an advantageous location. The Messrs. Hen- 
derson's colliery is under the superintendence of Mr. 
Charles Henderson, brother of the owners, and from 
the manner in which the coal is prepared for market, 
we would predict a continual and steady sale. In 
connection with these notes we would state that a 
vein of argillaceous iron ore, about one foot in thick- 
ness, is found overlaying the top slate of the Peach 
mountain vein, and it is supposed to follow it the 
whole distance of the working. 

From Henderson's colliery to the extreme end of 
the Eagle Hill railroad, there are several collieries 
opened under the direction of J. G. Hewes, and super- 
intended by Edward Perry, Joseph Green and Lle- 
wellyn Morgan. As these veins have been but late- 
ly opened, and as we have failed in our effort to pro- 
cure the correct distances, &c., we are compelled to 
give them this passing notice. 

Returning to the point where the Eagle Hill rail- 
road branches oft' from the Valley railroad, we then 
pursue our regular direction down the latter without 
meeting any collieries until we come to another la- 
teral road, which branches off" from the main road at 
right angles, and continues in an easterly direction 
through a piece of low marshy ground, for about a 
quarter of a mile, when it reaches the western spur 
of a hill known as the "Bear Ridge." This ridge 
continues from this point in an easterly direction un- 
broken as far as Middleport. It contains a number 



366 HISTORY OF SCHUYLKILL COUNTY. 

of veins, in the working- of which a great deal of cap- 
ital has been expended. At the spur of this ridge the 
railroad terminates at a working known as 

JAMES BERRY'S COLLIERY. 

Mr. Berry is working a low level of the Tunnel 
vein. It is 4 feet thick, pitches south, and commands 
about 60 yards of breasting. The first opening was 
made many years ago by T. Sillyman, Esq. The 
railroad was laid by Mr. Andrew B. White, who 
owns the property. Mr. Berry has worked the gang^ 
way to a distance of about 1400 yards, and has about 
SOO yards yet to go before coming to the line — he has 
been working this vein about one year. 

Returning to the junction of this lateral road with 
the Schuylkill Valley road, the first collieries we come 
to, are 

THE BELFAST COLLIERIES. 

These collieries are situated immediately on the 
Valley railroad, about one mile from Port Carbon, 
and are worked by A. Bolton & Co. These gentle- 
men have made openings here into three veins — the 
Black Mine, Rabbit Hole, and North Salem. These 
vary in thickness from 2d to 7 feet, and have a south 
pitch of about 35 degrees — they have all been opened 
this spring, are in good order, and with the prope? 
facilities could be made to yield from 10,000 to 15,000 
tons per annum. They are all opened upon the tract 
belonging to Samuel Bell, Esq., but continue on, by 
right of a lease, through the " Junction Tract." The 
whole length of range is about 1000 yards. The 
coal is a first quality red ash, and the veins are so 
celebrated and well known throughout the trade, that 
all comment from us would be needless. The Messrs. 
Bolton have made the usual arragements, by means 



HISTORY or SCHUYLKILL COUNTY. 367 

of breaking plates, &c., to prepare their coal in first 
rate order, for the market. 

Between these workings, and the Eagle Hill rail- 
road, there are other old openings, which have not 
been in operation for several years. That they have 
been extensively worked at some past day, is evi- 
denced by the immense heaps of coal dirt, and refuse 
matter, which remains piled up about their entrances, 
and when our readers bear in mind these veins have 
only been operated in above water-level, they will 
understand how great a mass of coal still remains un- 
worked even in that space. 

About 200 yards below the Belfast collieries, we 
come to another railroad, which makes an acute an- 
gle, at its junction with the Valley railroad, and tra- 
verses in an easterly direction, the valley lying be- 
tween the " Bear Ridge" and the Sharp mountain. 
This railroad is about one mile in length, and was 
leased by Patterson & Sillyman, about the- year 1836. 
The first colliery upon this road, which is called the 
lower Bear Ridge railroad, is 

HEEBNER'S COLLIERY. 

Tliis working is upon two tracts — the drift is com- 
menced and driven in on land belonging to Mr. A. 
B. White, but extends into a tract owned by Mr. 
Moses Palmer, froin which the coal is now mined. 
The vein is the Tunnel vein, about 4 feet thick, pitches 
south, and commands about 30 yarda- of breasting. 
The coal is a celebrated red ash, of first quality. This 
vein was first opened in IS36 or 1837, and: was re- 
commenced by Mr. Heebner, in the spring of 1843. 
The length of range upon this vein is 1200 yards, and 
the mine is at present in excellent order. This col- 
liery is under the superintendence of Mr. James Ber- 
ry, who is a good practical man, and an excellent 
miner. 



368 HISTORY OF SCHUYLKILL COUNTY. 

Passing up the Bear Ridge road, we find but one 
■other colliery now in operation, which is situated at 
the head of the road, and was commenced on Wednes- 
day last, by Hertzog & Guiterman. This vein was 
opened many years ago by Thomas Sillyman, and 
remained idle for some time before the present lessees 
took it. 

At this point, as well as at Heebner's collieries, are 
built a number of miners' dwellings, which from their 
number and regularity makes each colliery appear 
like a small village — both places must contain nearly 
50 houses. 

Mr. J. G. Hewes is also working a vein in the Sharp 
mountain, about a quarter of a mile from Port Car- 
bon, on the land belonging to Lippincott & Randolph. 
The coal is brought out of the vein through a tunnel, 
which was driven by Mr. Randolph's direction, many 
years ago. This mine has no lateral road connecting 
with the main road, and consequently the operator 
is compelled to haul the coal in wagons and carts to 
the landing. It is a first quality red ash and the vein 
is in good order. 

The next collieries as we approach towards Port 
Carbon, are 

THE JUNCTION COLLIERIES. 

These collieries are located about 100 yards in a 
northerly direction from the Valley railroad, and 
about 300 yards from the landings, at Port Carbon. 
They are located on the Junction tract, formerly a 
part of the property owned by the North American 
Coal Company, and now held by the assignees. 
These collieries are now worked by David Chillas, 
Esq., who is now working the Tunnel vein, undet 
the direction of J. Hodgkiss, mining engineer, who is 
the contractor for the getting of the coal, and which 
was first opened many years ago, and abandoned. 



HISTORY OF SCHUYLKILL COUNTY. 369 

This vein is a notable red ash — four feet in thickness, 
and is an excellent, pure coal. The vein pitches 
south at an angle of about 35 degrees. Mr. Chillas 
has already opened ten breasts in it, which are all 
yielding good coal — the height of these breasts is be- 
tween 60 and 70 yards. The length of range upon 
this vein at the water-level is 1775 yards, about 350 
yards of which have already been driven by gang- 
way. On the present level at which the mines are 
worked, they will have a distance of 300 yards yet 
to drive, but at the water-level the length will be in- 
creased as above. This vein, if properly worked, 
could be made to yield about 6000 tons, from now 
until the close of the season. The mines are in first 
rate condition, and everything promises a favorable 
and profitable return. 

The next vein we come to is upon the same tract, 
about 70 yards north of the latter vein, and are 

BOLTON & GO'S COLLIERIES. 

This vein is called the " Black Mine." It is now 
worked by Messrs. Bolton & Co., above the water- 
l<9vel. It is above 5 feet thick — a first quality red ash 
—and is in good order. This vein has been driven 
in by gangway, about 250 yards, and is yielding well. 
The height of breasts is about 60 yards, and the vein 
pitches south about 35 degrees. Messrs. Bolton will 
have about 600 yards length of range at the water- 
level. 

Independent of those veins already described, there 
are other veins on this tract, which will no doubt at 
some future day be worked to great advantage. 

We have now finished our pilgrimage down the 
Schuylkill Valley District, and in our progress have 
given our readers full descriptions of more than twen- 
ty active collieries. In writing out this account, we 
X 



370 HISTORY OP SCHUYLKILL COUNTY. 

have been guided by observation and facts, arrived at 
through our own senses, and have avoided all those 
minutia of measurement and statistics, which would 
only serve to confuse and bewilder the uninitiated rea- 
der. In our notes we have passed over, or treated 
with but a cursory notice, the various openings which 
have been abandoned, or remain inoperative. There 
are now in the space of ground which intervenes be- 
tween Port Carbon and the head of the railroad at 
Tuscarora, many favorable and valuable locations for 
coal operations, which have never been developed. 
The reason for this, hitherto, has been a want of pro- 
per facilities for transportatioQ. The present railroad 
is badly located — has for many years been in misera- 
ble condition, and is entirely too narrow between the 
rails to enable cars of sufficient size to traverse it. 
These objections have no doubt aided greatly in de- 
terring capitahsts from ventm'ing upon the route, biit 
now when the survey of a new route is in progress, 
and all the arrangements made for putting down a 
new and serviceable road the whole distance, to con- 
nect with the great Pottsville and Philadelphia road ; 
we do not know in our whole district a more favoi- 
able spot for investments. 

In our next number, we shall commence at Port 
Carbon, and describe all the collieries upon the Mill 
Creek railroad which occur between that point anji 
the terminus of the road at the Broad mountain. 

PORT CARBON DISTRICT. 

The next valley of any importance, is the Mill- 
Creek Valley, which extends from the landings on the 
canal at Port Carbon, to the southern foot of the- 
Broad mountain. The whole extent of this ravine is 
traversed by a railroad called the Mill creek railroad. 

This road was first commenced in 1829, by Francis 
B. Nichols and Henry Morris, Esqrs.;^aiid was takea 



HISTORY OF SCHUYLKILL COUNTY. 371 

by the present company, some time in the fall of that 
year ; it is four miles in length, and was completed 
so that coal was brought over it in 1830. At the foot 
of this railroad, and within the limits of the town of 
Port Carbon, we meet with the first collieries upon 
it. They are called 

THE SALEM COLLIERIES. 

These collieries are located at the northern base of 
the Salem hill, a narrow ridge which extends parallel 
with the river Schuylkill from Pottsville to Port Car- 
bon. Both the collieries and the hill take their name 
from the Salem vein, which is every where celebrated 
for its purity and excellence as a red ash coal. The 
workings are carried on by Mr. Charles Ellet, who 
leases from the estate of the late Robert McDermot. 
The tract, which is very valuable, contains about 230 
acres, and furnishes a range upon the veins of 1,800 
yards. It was first opened by Mr. Ellet in 1834, 
above the water-level, on the south side of the Salem 
hill, and the old working may still be perceived on 
the road between this place and Port Carbon. This 
drift was worked for about four years, when it was 
abandoned, and Mr. E. had a slope sunken on the 
north side for the purpose of working the vein below 
the water-level. The length of the first slope which 
was put down was 300 feet. An engine was erected 
for the purpose of hoisting and pumping, which is 
still in operation. It is from the workshop of Hay- 
wood & Snyder, and is pronounced an excellent piece 
of machinery. The vein was worked by means of 
this engine for three years, and in that space of time, 
the coal was mined out for 1,200 yards west of the 
slope. At this time, in consequence of the increased 
and extended operations of the collieries, it was found 
necessary to put down a 60 horse engine, to be used 
for pumping alone. The slope was then sunken to 
the depth of 600 feet, and both engines are now in 



372 HISTORY OP SCHUYLKILL COUNTY. 

active operation. In the lower level the coal has 
been worked out but 400 yards, which leaves the 
operator now about 700 yards of 600 feet breasting, 
and 800 yards of 300 feet breasting. This ensures a 
heavy and extensive business for many years to 
come — a business which is perfectly safe and secure, 
in consequence of the vein having been thoroughly 
proven through the upper gangway. The Salem 
vein at this point is four feet thick, and pitches to the 
south at an angle of about 33 degrees. 

At the time Mr. EUet commenced driving down 
his slope on the north side of Salem hill, he also made 
a tunnel through the hill, in order to connect the col- 
liery with the canal by a shorter route than that he 
would otherwise have been compelled to take. 

This tunnel is 600 feet in length, and decreases the 
distance to the canal about 600 yards, while at the 
same time the construction was advisable, as the tun- 
nel and other landings could all be effected upon 
property belonging to the tract. There are four 
landings with schutes, oiRces, and railroads all built 
at the southern mouth of the tunnel, and are now 
used for the continuel shipping of coal, A connec- 
tion was made between the railroad leading through 
the tunnel, and the Mill creek railroad, which enables 
operators on the latter to bring their coal by a shorter 
route to the canal, than were they to ship it from the 
old landings. The construction of these landings and 
tunnel was accomplished at an expense of from 8 to 
10,000 dollars. Mr. EUet has made an arrangement 
at his collieries for the breaking of coal, upon perfora- 
ted iron plates, which seems to work very Avell, but is 
inferior we think, in cheapness to the newly invented 
breaker of Battin's. At the time we visited the 
mines (on Thursday last) every thing was in active 
operation, and we saw there the minutia of a well 
regulated and extensive colliery — the steady puif of 
the two mighty engines — the rattling of the coal on 
the schutes — the clanking of the hammers, and the 



HISTORY OP SCHUYLKILL COUNTY. 373 

rumble of car wheels, all tended to impress us with 
the great importance of the trade to which these out- 
lays are necessary. 

The new route of the Mount Carbon and Port 
Carbon railway passes Mr. Ellet's tunnel, on the op- 
posite side of the Schuylkill, at a distance of about 
100 yards from the mouth. The connection will be 
made by a bridge across the river and canal, when, in 
all probability, the whole railroad trade from the Mill 
Creek district, will pass through the tunnel, and in this 
manner, reach the main route of railway from Potts- 
ville to Philadelphia. 

In closing our notice of this colliery we would re- 
mark that the slope is the deepest in the county, and 
as the Salem vein is the most southern one, and as it 
consequently must be lower on the surface than the 
rest, our readers will therefore be able to understand 
tlie almost inexhaustible extent of coal which must 
necessarily lie beneath the surface, at points in a more 
northerly direction, where the distance above the 
water-level, must naturally be much higher. 

We mention this fact to show the immense re- 
sources which our district possesses, and also to prove 
how impossible it is that we should live to see it ex- 
hausted. When our readers understand that every vein 
of coal extends beneath the surface to a distance never 
yet peneated, and may be worked out as far down 
as power can be brought to bear upon it, they will 
perceive the great and immense supply we can create. 
In fact the coal trade of this district, although heavier 
than any in the country, is yet in its insipient state, 
and we will venture to predict, that but a few years 
in the lapse of time will roll over our heads, before 
the Schuylkill County Coal Field, in mining and 
manufacturing, will rival the most important district 
of Great Britain. 

In the following articles upon the Coal Region, we 
shall furnish a description, minute and particular, of 
all the collieries situated on the Mill creek railroad, 
commencing at Port Carbon. 



374 HISTORY OF SCHUYLKILL COUNTY. 



MILL CREEK DISTRICT. 



RONALDSON COLLIERY. 

This vein was first worked many years ago by 
Messrs. J. & R. Young. It was also afterwards 
worked by Mr. Wm. Bosbyshell, on the Mill creek, 
and by Mr.'Thos. C. Williams, on the Norwegian, so 
that the workings met. The vein has been com- 
pletely worked out above the water-level, for the dis- 
tance of 1,200 yards. The gangways having met in 
the centre, there is now a complete and continuous 
railroad passage through the hill Avhich intervenes 
between Pottsville and Port Carbon, through which 
trains may pass from the Mill creek to the Mount 
Carbon railroad. 

The present proprietor of these mines, Mr. A. Ron- 
aldson, has had them in possession but a short time. 
He has sunken a slope upon the Lewis vein, the depth 
of which is about 330 feet below the lowest gang- 
way — thirty feet of this is used by the tank at the 
bottom, which leaves him a breasting of 100 yards. 
The vein is worked by a powerful stationary engine, 
which perfoms the pumping and hoisting. This en- 
gine was put down in 1843, and the slope was first 
smiken in March, 1844. The thickness of the Lewis 
vein at this point varies from seven feet to twelve ; it 
is found in some places to the thickness of fourteen 
feet. The length of range upon the present level will 
be about 1,400 yards. 

Mr. Ronaldson has also attached to his Avorks, 
which are carried on in a complete and methodical 
manner, a breaking machine upon the plan adopted 



HISTORY OP SCHUYLKILL COUNTY. 375 

by Messrs. Haywood & Co. The rollers are driven 
by an engine of eight horse power, which also turns 
the screens. 

Mr. Ronaldson has the double advantage of ship- 
ping his coal either from Port Carbon or Pottsville. 
Should he want to send a train of loaded cars down 
by the Reading railroad, he can use the old drift 
which opens on a level with the Mill creek road, but 
a few yards from the schutes, and can transport his 
■coal through the heart of the mountain, a distance of 
1,200 yards, when it will enter the Mount Carbon 
road at the old workings of Mr. Charles Lawton, at 
Pottsville. It is a tedious method, however, and is 
but seldom used. 

The next opening upon the Mill creek railroad, 
which we arrive at after leaving the above mentioned 
colliery, is also worked by Mr. Ronaldson. It is on 
the eastern side of the railroad, about 200 yards north 
of Haywood & Co's. operations, on the Lewis vein. 
Mr. Ronaldson at this point is working three veins by 
means of tunneling. The first tunnel is into the Yard 
vein — a tunnel from this point, 33 yards in length, 
reaches the " Spohn" — about 40 yards further north, 
it cuts the " Palmer" vein — about 30 yards in the same 
direction, it will intersect the " Cha's Pott" vein, 
and by another tunnel of 40 yards, will open into the 
"Clarkson" vein. Thus the reader will perceive that 
the product of five veins of coal, can all be brought 
out of the same opening. The veins are celebrated 
for their purity and quality, and average, at this point, 
about four feet each in thickness. In a very short 
time we expect to see on this spot one of the largest 
and most extensive collieries in the district. 

RAINBOW COLLIERIES. 

These collieries are situated on Little Wolf creek, 
about three miles north of Port Carbon, and are 



376 HISTORY OF SCHUYLKILL COUNTY. 

reached by a branch or lateral road one mile and a 
half in length, which forms a junction with the Mill 
creek railroad, at about one mile and a half from the 
landings at Port Carbon. These collieries are worked 
by Mr. Samuel Sillyman, one of the first and most 
enterprizing operators in the district, and under his 
direction and management, have proved celebrated 
and profitable. The vein, which is a white ash coal, 
well known in all the different markets, is twenty-one 
feet in thickness, and is approached by three openings 
or tunnels. It is in good order and promises to yield 
well for the future. Mr. Sillyman is now driving a 
tunnel into a vein about 250 feet north of the present 
working, which is ascertained to be ten feet in thick- 
ness, and judging from the samples of coal takeji 
from said vein, we have no doubt that it will sustain 
the high reputation which the Sillyman coal has justly 
received for the last nine years. The length of range 
upon these veins is about 2,500 yards. 

Attached to these mines are twenty-one comforta- 
ble miners' houses, the inmates of which appear to be 
happy and contented. The stranger, in passing up 
the road, is struck with the appearance of a small 
village, possessing all the outward marks of industry 
and happiness, and when he remembers that but a 
few years since, this spot was the scene of a complete 
and silent wilderness, he will see and understand the 
great stride which improvement has made in our re- 
gion, since the first discovery of that valuable mineral 
which constitutes the wealth of our district. 

SILLYM4N & EVAN'S COLLIERY. 

These collieries are located on the eastern side of 
the Mill creek, near the village of St. Clair. It is on 
the same vein as the above described working — is 21 
feet in thickness, and although one mile west of the 
other, possesses all the qualities and peculiarities 
which attach to it. The vein is entered by three 
drifts or gangways. 



HISTORY 0F SCHUYLKILL COUNTY. 377 



PINKERTON'S COLLIERY. 

This colliery is situated on the west side of the 
Mill creek, in the ravine which leads from St. Clair 
to New Castle, and extends westwardly from a mile 
to a mile and a half. 

The outside fixtures at this colliery for breaking 
and cleaning coal are close upon the Mill creek rail- 
road, with which they are connected by a short late- 
ral road of iron rails. 

The veins are cut by a tunnel driven at half course 
across the ends of them. The first is a vein of four 
feet in thickness — the next nine feet, and the balance 
twenty feet — each of these seperated from the other 
by a stratum of strong slate of 12 feet in thickness 
(measuring at right angles with the course.) The 
coal in all is white ash, pure and hard, commanding 
a ready sale at the best market price. 

Another vein, 17 feet in thickness, lies north of 
these veins about 45 yards — and is now being tun- 
nelled to from the 20 feet vein above mentioned. 
Half of the distance is already driven, and it is ex- 
pected to be finished as soon as the first of May next ; 
this also is a white ash coal of superior quality. 

Communications are made at distances of from 
150 to 200 yards between the three first mentioned 
veins by cutting through the intermediate stratum of 
slate, (at half course) thereby saving turnouts, and 
avoiding the necessity of driving up to the surface 
for air, except in one vein only. 

The road in the 9 feet or middle vein is kept for 
the passing out of loaded cars, and is an iron road so 
substantial and even in its grade that one horse can 
readily bring out a train of six or seven drift cars. 



578 EISTORY OF SCHUYLKILL COUNTY. 

The drift cars used here are differently constructed 
from any in the region — are very strong, easily re- 
paired, and many of them have been in use seven or 
eight years. In consequence of wanting sufficient 
space to stow away the dirt and rubbish necessarily 
occuring from a business of the extent contemplated 
at this colliery, and also for the purpose of procuring 
the required elevation for breaking and preparing the 
coal for market, an inclined plane has been construct- 
ed which is 110 feet in length, at an angle of 29 de- 
grees, making a height of 44 feet. This work has 
been put up entirely on trestles in the most substan- 
tial manner, and is highly creditable to the carpenter, 
(Mr. J. G. Swift of our borough.) The coal will be 
hoisted up this plane by a gin with one horse, which 
is calculated to lift and empty a car in three minutes. 
Another gin is being constructed for turning three 
screens with one horse. It is not intended to use any 
of the present machinery for breaking coal, for the 
reason, as we understand, that the proprietor will sell 
a much greater bulk of what is called " lump" coal, 
than of any other kind. That which is broken, will 
be prepared by hand on cast iron perforated plates. 

In addition to those before mentioned, another vein, 
also of white ash coal, about 350 yards north of the 
former, is now about being opened — the thickness of 
this vein has not been ascertained, but by trial with 
shafts sunk to the depth of about 70 feet, at 100 
yards apart, we are told that its appearance on 
the bottom slate marked it as a vein 21 feet in thick- 
ness. 

It is intended to take the coal from this vein, or at 
least from the two upper levels in it, by a railroad 
laid along the side of the hill, to the outside fixtures 
on the other veins. The breasting on the 17 feet vein 
before mentioned, will have a height of 930 feet from 
the gangway, and on the other vein (supposed to be 
24 feet in thickness) there will be a breasting of 1,140 
feet from the third or lowest level. 



HISTORY OF SCHUYLKILL COUNTY. 379 

This colliery promises to become, in a short time, 
one of the most extensive in the district, and we have 
heard it remarked by those who know the capacity 
of the works, that it might be made more important 
than any other concern in the region. 

MAMMOTH COLLIERY. 

This colliery is situated four miles north from Port 
Carbon, on the west side of Mill creek. It is leased 
and worked by Joseph G. Lawton. 

These mines are very interesting to those visitors 
who desire to examine the mode of working those 
resources of wealth, and to witness where advantages 
may be obtained in the coal trade by a judicious ap- 
plication of labor. The vein worked is the celebrated 
Mammoth or Daniels vein, long worked by George & 
Wm. Payne, about four miles west of this colliery, 
and is known to yield coal better adapted to the 
manufacturing of iron than any other in the region ; 
the coal being of the best white ash, pure and hard. 
The vein at this place varies from 16 to 22 feet in 
thickness, and pitches at an angle of from 23 to 90. 
The coal is raised from the gangways by an engine 
of twelve horse power, manufactured by our enter- 
prizing townsman, L. W. M'Gennis, and does credit 
to his well known skill. This engine, which by the 
way is the first engine erected in the region in a 
white ash vein, for hoisting coal, raises the coal forty- 
two feet above the level of the Mill creek railroad, 
thereby giving ample height for the schutes which are 
put up on such a plan, that scarcely a shovel need 
be used in all the process of unloading, and loading 
the coal. 

The engine is supphed with pure water from a 
large reservoir, made in the valley between the Broad 
moimtain and Mine hill, from 3 to 400 yards distant, 
irom which the water is conducted through pipes, 



380 HISTORY OP SCHUYLKILL COUNTY. 

which discharge about 1,500 gallons a day. Wliat 
is not used after first supplying a trough at the door 
of the stable, made in one of the exhausted breastings 
for the accommodation of the horses used in the mine, 
which do not leave their dark abode except on Sun- 
day, is allowed to run down the side of the hill again 
to join those waters from which it had been separated 
some hundred yards back. 

The mines are drained by means of a tunnel about 
one hundred and fifty yards long, which was com- 
menced in 1841, and driven at great expense mostly 
Uirough a close grained conglomerate rock, which 
scarcely appeared to yield to the efforts of the hard- 
working miners, and was finished in 1844. 

The internal arrangement of the mine is admirably 
calculated to facilitate business. The roads are all 
laid with heavy railroad iron — it being of the same 
size as that used on the mill creek railroad. 

Holes are made from the gangways to the surface, 
down which the timber for the use of the mines is 
thrown, instead of loading it into the cars at the head 
of the slope, and thus causing detention. 

The proprietor of this colliery is now erecting a 
water power sufficient to drive a saw mill, and break 
and screen his coal. The latter will be done on the 
Battin principle, by two rollers, which he thinks will 
be sufficient, as it is not his intention to break more 
than can possibly be helped. He, like other dealers 
in white ash coal, has more demand for large or 
" lump," than broken coal. 



CHAPTER V. 

EDUCATION. 

Common Schools were of course encouraged as 
soon as the first settlers had cleared a field or two, 
erected a few houses, and made such other improve- 
ments as their emergencies demanded. The School 
Master was abroad. In some instances, especially 
among the Germans, as it was an early custom 
among them, a person was employed who discharged 
both the duties of the Prediger und Schulmeister, 
Such persons they brought with them when they first 
emigrated to this country. Nevertheless, schools 
among the Germans were in a most deplorable con- 
dition for many years. On the arrival of the Rev. 
Muhlenberg, in 1742, and the Rev. Michael Schlatter, 
in 1746 ; the former a Lutheran, the latter a German 
Reformed minister, unceasing efforts were made by 
those fathers of the German churches in Pennsylva- 
nia, to establish schools in connection with all the 
German churches. 

In 1751 an eflbrt was made which promised to be 
crowned with more than ordinary success, to estab- 
lish a school in Pennsylvania. About that time, or 
shortly before, the Rev. Schlatter, had returned to 
Holland, and on his representation of the destitute 
condition of the Germans here, to the churches in 
Holland, a scheme was started hy some noblemen of 
Europe, for the instruction of Germans and their de- 
scendants in Pennsylvania. These foreign gentle- 
men were truly concerned to find that any of their 



382 HISTORY OF SCHUYLKILL COUNTY. 

fellow subjects, in part of the British dominions, were 
not fully provided with the means of knowledge and 
salvation. They considered it a matter of the 
greatest importance to the cause of Christianity in 
general, and the protestant interest in particular, not 
to neglect such a vast body of useful people, situated 
in such a dark, barren region, with almost none to 
protect them, or their helpless children, who are com- 
ing forth in multitudes, and exposed an easy prey to 
the total ignorance of their savage neighbors on the 
one hand, and the corruption of their Jesuitical ene- 
mies, on whom they bordered, on the other hand ; 
and of whom there were always, perhaps, too many 
mixed among them. Moved by these interesting 
considerations, these noblemen and others, did accord- 
ingly take the good design into their immediate pro- 
tection, and formed themselves into a society for the 
effectual management of carrying out the scheme of 
instructing the Germans. 

Below there is a detailed account given of Schlat- 
ter's success : 

"A brief history of the rise and progress of the 
charitable society, carrying on by a society of noble- 
men and gentlemen in London, for the relief and in- 
struction of poor Germans and their descendants, 
settled in Pennsylvania, &c., published for the infor- 
mation of those whom it may concern, by James 
Hamilton, William Allen, Richard Peters, Benjamin 
Franklin, and Conrad Weiser, Esquires, and the Rev. 
William Smith, Trustees General, appointed for the 
management of the said charitable scheme. 

" For several years past, the small number of Re- 
formed Protestant ministers, settled among the Ger- 
man emigrants in Pennsylvania, and finding the 
harvest great, but the laborers few, have been deeply 
affected with a true christian concern, for the welfare 
of their distressed countrymen, and the salvation of 
their precious souls. In consequence of this, they have 



HISTORY OF SCHUYLKILL COUNTY. 38S 

from time to time, in the most solemn and moving 
manner, entreated the churches of Holland, to 
commisserate their unhappy fellow christians, wha 
mourn under the deepest affliction, being settled 
in a remote corner of the world, where the light of the 
gospel has but lately reached, and where they are- 
very much destitute of the means of knowledge and 
salvation. 

" The churches of Holland, being accordingly 
moved with friendly compassion, did from time to 
time, contribute to the support of religion in these re- 
mote parts. But in the year 1751, a very moving 
representation of their state having been made by a 
person, whose miwearied labors for the benefit of his 
dear countrymen have been for some years conspicu- 
ous, the states of Holland and West Frisland, granted 
2,000 gilders per annum^iox five years from that time, 
to be applied towards the instruction of the said Ger- 
mans and their children, in Pennsylvania. A consid- 
erable sum was also collected in the city of Amster- 
dam, and elsewhere, and upon a motion made by the 
same zealous person, the Rev. Mr. Thomson* was 
commissioned by the Synod of Holland, and Classis 
of Amsterdam, to solicit the friendly assistance of the 
churches of England and Scotland. 

" When Mr. Thomson arrived in Great Britain, he 
found the readiest encouragement among persons of 
the first rank, both in church and state. In this pe- 
culiar glory of the British government, equally to con- 
sult the happiness of all who live under it, however 
remote, wherever born, or of whatsoever denomina- 
tion, wicked and inhuman tyrants, whose ambition 
is to rule over slaves, find it their interest to keep the 
people ignorant. But, in a virtuous and free govera- 
management of the design upon themselves. 

" This proposal was readily agreed to by those noble 

• Mr. T. is a minister of one of the English churches in Am- 
sterdam, and a member of said f ynod and Classis. 



S84 HISTORY OF SCHUYLKILL COUNTY. 

mentjlike that of Great Britain, the case is far other- 
wise. By its very nature and spirit, it desires every 
member of the community enUghtened with useful 
knowledge, and especially the knowledge of the 
blessed gospel, which contains the best and most 
powerful motives for making good subjects, as well 
as good men. Considered in this light, Mr. Thom- 
son's design could not fail to be encouraged in our 
mother country, since it was evidently calculated to 
save a multitude of most industrious people from the 
gloom of ignorance, and qualify them for the enjoy- 
ment of all those privileges, to which it is now their 
good fortune to be admitted, in common with the 
happy subjects of a free Protestant government. 

" Mr. Thomson having thus made his business 
known in England, and prepared the way for en- 
couragement there, he, in the meantime, went down 
to Scotland ; and, himself being known in that coun- 
try, he represented the case to the General Assembly 
of the church, then sitting at Edinburg, upon which 
a national collection was made, amounting to up- 
wards of £1,200 sterling. Such an instance of gene- 
rosity is one out of many, to show how ready that 
cliurch has always been to contribute towards the ad- 
vancement of Truth, Virtue and Freedom. 

" Mr. Thomson, upon his return from Scotland, 
found that his pastoral duty called him back to Hol- 
land. He saw likewise that it would be absolutely 
necessary to have some person in London, not only 
to manage the moneys already collected, but also to 
solicit and receive the contributions of the rich and 
the benevolent in England, where nothing had yet 
been collected, and where much might be hoped for. 
With this view, he begged a certain number of noble- 
men* and gentlemen, of the first rank, to take the 

• The first members of this society were as follows, though 
we believe several are added this winter, (1775,) whose names 
have not yet been transmitted to us : 

The Right Hon. Earl of Shaftesbury, Earl of Morton, Earl of 



HISTORY OF SCHUYLKILL COUNTY. 385 

and worthy persons. They were truly concerned to 
find that there were any of their fellow subjects, in 
any part of the British dominions, not fully provided 
with the means of knowledge and salvation. They 
considered it a matter of the greatest importance to 
the cause of Christianity, in general, and the protestant 
interest in particular, not to neglect such a vast body of 
useful people, situated in a dark and barren region, 
with almost none to instruct them, or their helpless 
children, who are coming forward in the world in 
multitudes, and exposed an easy prey to the total 
ignorance of their savage neighbors on the one hand, 
and the corruption of our Jesuitical enemies, on whom 
they border, on the other hand ; and of whom there 
are always, perhaps, too many mixed among them. 
Moved by these interesting considerations, the said 
noblemen and gentlemen, with a consideration pecu- 
liar to great and generous souls, did accordingly take 
the good design into their immediate protection, and 
formed themselves into a society for the eftectual 
management of it. 

" The first thing said society did, was to agree to a 
liberal subscription among themselves ; and, upon 
laying the case before the King, His Majesty, like a 
true father of his people, granted i!l,000 towards it. 
Her Royal Highness, the Princess Dowager of Wales, 
grafted £100; and the honorable proprietors of this 
province, willing to concur in every design for the 
ease and welfare of their people, generously engaged 
to give a considerable sum yearly for promoting the 
most essential part of the undertaking. From such a 
fair beginning, and from some hopes they reasonably 



Finlater, and Lord Willoughby, of Parham. Sir Luke Schaub, 
and Sir Joshua Van Neck, Baronets. Mr. Commission Vernon, 
Mr. Chitly, and Mr. Fluddyer, Aldermen of London. John 
Bance, Robert Furguson, and Nathaniel Paice, Esqrs., of Lon- 
don. Rev. Benjamin Avory, L. L. D., Rev. Thomas Birch, D. D., 
Rev. Mr. Casper Wetstein, Rev. Mr. David Thomson, and Rev. 
Samuel Chandler, Secretary. 

Y 



386 HISTORY OF SCHUYLKILL COUNTY. 

entertain of a more public nature, the honorable society 
doubt not of their being able to complete such a fund 
as may effectually answer their pious design, in time, 
coming. In the meantime they have come to the fol- 
lowing general resolutions, with regard to the manager 
ment of the whole : 

" I. To assist the people in the encouragement of 
pious and industrious protestant ministers that are, or 
shall be reguljarly ordained and settled among the. 
said Germans, or their descendants, in America 5 
beginning first in Pennsylvania, where, the want (Of 
ministers is greatest, and proceeding to the neighboFr 
ing British colonies, ajg they shall be enabled by an 
increase of theji funds. 

" II. To establish some charitable schools for the 
pious education of German youths of all denomina- 
tions, as well as those English youths who may re- . 
side among them. Now, as a religious education of 
youth, while the tender mind is yet open to every 
impression, is the most effectual means of making a 
people wise, virtuous and happy, the honorable so- 
ciety have declared that they have this part of thejr 
design, in a, particular manner, at heart ; it being 
chiefly from .the care that shall be taken of the rising, 
generation, that th^y expect the success of their whole; 
undertaking. 

"III. The said' honorable society, considering that 
they reside at too great a distance, either to knowi 
what ministers deserve their encouragement, or what < 
places are most convenient to fi.x the schools in — and - 
as they would neither bestow their bounty on any. 
who do not deserve it ; therefore they have devolved 
the general execution of the whole upon us, under 
the name of Trustees General^ for the management 
of their charity among the German emigrants in 
America. And as our residence is in this province, 
where the chief body is settled, and where we may- 
acquaint them with the circumstances of the people. 



HISTORY OP SCHUYLKILL COUNTY. 387 

the generous society hope that we cannot be imposed 
upon, or deceived, in the direction or application of 
their excellent charity. 

« IV. And lastly, considering that our engagements 
in other matters, would not permit us personally to 
consult with the people in the country, nor to visit 
the schools as often as it might be necessary for their 
success, the honorable society have, out of their true 
fatherly care, appointed the Rev. Mr. Schlatter, to act 
under our direction, as Visitor or Supervisor of the 
the schools, knowing that he has already taken in- 
credible pains in this whole affair, and being acquaint- 
ed with the people in all parts of the country, can 
converse with them on the spot, and bring ;us the best 
advices from time to time, concerning th© measures 
fit to be taken. 

" This is a brief history of the rise and progress of 
this noble charity, till it was committed to our man- 
agement, under which we hope it shall be so conduct- 
ed, as fully to answer the expectation of the worthy 
society, and give all reasonable satisfaction to the 
parties for whose benefit it is intended. We shall 
spare no pains to inform ourselves of the wants and 
circumstances of the people ; as will appear by the fol- 
lowing plan which we have concerted for the general 
examination of our trust, leaving room to alter or 
amend it, as circumstances shall require, and time 
discover defects in it. 

"With regard to that part of the society's design 
which proposes the encouragement of pious protest- 
ant ministers, we shall impartially proportion the 
monies set apart for this purpose according to the in- 
struction of the said society ; as soon as such ministers 
shall put it in our power so to do, by making their 
labors and circumstances known to us, either by their 
own personal application, or by means of Mr. Schlat- ■ 
ter, or any other creditable person. 

"As to the important article ofestablishingsehools,!. 



388 HISTORY eP SCHUrLKILL COUNTY. 

the following general plan is proposed, which may 
be from time to time improved or perfected. 

" 1st. It is intended that every school to be opened 
upon this charity, shall be equally to the benefit of 
protestant youth of all denominations ; and therefore 
the education will be in such things as are generally 
useful to advance industry and true godliness. The 
youth will be instructed in both the English and Ger- 
man languages ; likewise in writing, keeping of com- 
mon accounts, singing of Psalms, and the true prin- 
ciples of the holy protestant religion, in the same man- 
ner as the fathers of those Germans were instructed, 
at the schools in those countries from which they 
came. 

" 2dly. As it may be of great service to religion 
and industry, to have some schools for girls, also, we 
shall use our endeavors with the honorable society, 
to have some few school mistresses encouraged, to 
teach reading, and the use of the needle. And though 
this was no part of the original design, yet as the so- 
ciety have nothing but thegeneral good of all at heart, 
we doubt not they will extend their benefaction for 
this charitable purpose also. 

"3dly. That all may be induced, in their early 
youth, to seek the knowledge and love of God, in 
that manner which is most agreeable to their own con- 
sciences, the children of all protestant denominations, 
English and Dutch, (German) shall be instructed in 
catechism of sound doctrine, which is approved of and 
used by their own parents and ministers. All un- 
reasonable sort of compulsion and partiality is direct- 
ly opposite to the design and spirit of this charity^ 
which is generously undertaken to promote useful 
Imowledge, true religion, public peace, and Christian 
love, among all ranks and denominations. 

" 4thly. For the use of schools, the several cate- 
chisms that are now taught among the Calvinists, 
Lutherans, and other protestant denominations, will 



HISTORY OF SCHUYLKILL COUNTY. 389 

be printed in English and Dutch, (German) and dis- 
tributed among the poor, together with some other 
good books, at the expense of the society. 

" 5thly. In order that all parents may be certain of 
having justice done to their children, the immediate 
care and inspection of every school will be committed 
to a certain number of sober and respectable persons, 
living near the place where every such school shall 
be fixed. These persons will be denominated Jls- 
sistant or Deputy Ttrustees ; and it will be their 
business, monthly or quarterly, to visit that partciular 
school for which they are appointed, and see that 
both master and scholars do their duty. It will also 
be their business to send an account of the state and 
progress of the schools, at every such visitation, to us 
as Trustees General. These accounts we shall trans- 
mit from Philadelphia to the society in London ; and 
the society will from time to time, be enabled, by these 
means, to lay the state of the whole schools before the 
public; and thus charitable and well disposed people, 
both in Great Britain and Holland, seeing the good 
use that has been made of their former contributions, 
will be inclined to give still more and more for so 
glorious and benevolent an undertaking. 

"This method cannot fail to be of great advantage 
to the schools, since the Deputy Trustees, being part 
of the very people for whom the work is undertaken, 
and having their own children at the same schools, 
they must have an interest in the reputation of them, 
and do all in their power to advance good education 
in them. Besides this, being always near at hand, 
they can advise and encourage the master, and help 
him over any difficulties he may meet with. 

" But, ethly. As the keeping up a spirit of emula- 
tion among the youth is the life of all schools, there- 
fore, that we may leave as little room as possible for 
tliat remissness, which sometimes hurts charities of 
this nature, we shall, as far as our situation will per- 



390 HISTORY OF SCHUYLKILL COUNTY. 

' mit, have a personal regard to the execution of the 
whole. As the Assistant Trustees may often want 
our advice in removing difficulties and making new 
regulations, we shall so contrive it, that Mr. Schlat- 
ter shall be present with them at their quarterly meet- 
ings, to consult with them, and concert the proper 
measures to be taken. Besides this, we shall have 
one general visitation of the whole schools every year, 
at which one or more of us shall endeavor to.be pre- 
sent. On these occasions, such regulations shall be 
made, as may be wanted ; and careful inquiry will be 
made whether any parents think themselves injured 
by any unjust exclusion of their children from an equal 
benefit of the common charity, or by the partiality of 
the masters or otherwise. At such visitations, books 
will be given as rewards and encouragement, to the 
diligent and desei'ving scholars. The masters will 
likewise have proper marks of esteem shown them in 
i proportion to their fidelity and industry in the dis- 
charge of their office. 

" 7thly. With regard to the number of schools to 
be opened, that will depend partly on the encourage- 
ment given by the people themselves, and partly on 
the increase of the society's funds. A considerable 
number of places are proposed to fix schools in ; but 
none are yet absolutely determined upon, but New 
Hanover, New Providence, and Reading* These 
places were first fixed upon because the people of all 
persuasions, Lutherans, Calvinists, and other Protest- 
ants, moved with a pious and fatherly concern for the 
illiterate state of their helpless children, did, with true 
Christian harmony, present their petitions, praying 

*Since the original publication, petitions have been sent to the 
Trustees General, from Upper Solfort, from Vincent township, in 
Chester county, from the borough of Lancaster, from Tulpehock- 
en,and several other places, all of which will be considered as 
soon as possible. Feb. 25, 1755. — Pmtia. Gazette. 

Note.— Schools were also established in 1756, besides the 
places mentioned, at Lancaster, York, Easton, and severalosher 
places. 



HISTORY OF SCHUYLKILL COUNTY. 3S(l 

that their numerous children of all denominations in 
these parts, might be made the common object of the 
intended charity. And for this benevolent purpose, 
they did further agree to offer school houses in which 
their children might be instructed together, as dear 
fellow Christians, redeemed by the same common 
Lord and Saviour, and travelling to the same heaven- 
ly country, through this valley of tears, notwithstand- 
ing they may sometimes take roads a' little diiferentin 
points of smaller moment. 

" This striking example of unanimity and good 
agreement among all denominations, we hope, will be 
imitated by those who shall afterwards apply to us 
for fixing schools among them ; since it is only upon 
the aforesaid generous plan for the corhmon benefit 
of all, that we find ourselves empowered to institute 
such schools. But while the petitions dre agreeable 
to this, our plan, as now explained, they will not be 
overlooked, as long as the funds continue. And if 
the petitioners shall recommend school masters, as 
was the case at New Hanover, New Providence, and 
Reading, such school masters will have the prefer^ncCj 
provided they are men of sufficient probity and knowl- 
edge, agreeable to all parties, and acquainted with 
both the English and Dutch (German) languages, or 
willing to learn either -of these languages which they 
may not then be perfectly acquainted with. 

"These are essential iqualifications.; and unless the 
generous society had made provision for teaching Eng- 
lish as well as Dutch, (German) it -would not have 
answered their benevolent design, -w^hich is to quali- 
fy the Germans for all the advantages of native Eng- 
lish subjects. But this could not have been done, 
without giving them an opportunity of learning Eng- 
lish, by speaking of which they may expect to rise to 
places of profit and honor in the isountry. They will 
likewise be thereby enabkd to buy or sell to the 
greater advantage in our markets, to understand their 
own causes ineourts of .justice, where. pleadings are 



392 HISTORY OF SCHUYLKILL COUNTY. 

in English, to know wiiat is doing in the country 
around them, and, in a word, to judge and act entire- 
ly for themselves without being obliged to take things 
upon the word of others, whose interest it may be to 
deceive and mislead them» 

" We have only further to add, that having thus 
published, in our names, a true and faithful account 
of the rise and progress of this excellent charity, down 
to the present time, we hope it will candidly be re- 
ceived as such, and prevent many wrong conjectures 
and insinuations, that might otherwise have been 
made, if we had not given this genuine and necessary 
information concerning it. From the foregoing plan 
it plainly appears, that as the chief management is in 
the people themselves, it must be entirely their own 
faults, if these schools do not become the greatest 
blessing to many generations, that ever was proposed 
in this country. Such, and so benevolent are the de- 
signs of this new society ! 

" And surely, now, we may be permitted in their 
name, to address you, countrymen and fellow Chris- 
tians, for whose benefit the great work is undertaken ! 
We cannot but entreat you to consider, of what im- 
portance such a scheme must be to you, and your 
children after you. We are unwilling to believe that 
there are any persons, who do not heartily wish suc- 
cess to a design so pious and benevolent. But, if, 
unhappily for themselves, there should be any such 
among us, we are bound in charity to suppose they 
have never yetreflected that, whilst they indulge such 
Avishes, they are in fact acting a part, plainly repug- 
nant to the interests of liberty, true religion, and even 
of human nature. 

" Mankind in general are, perhaps, scarcely raised 
more, by their nature, above the brutes, than a man 
■well instructed above the man of no knowledge or 
education ; and whoever strives to keep a people in 
ignorance, must certainly harbor notions or designs 



HISTORY GF SCHUYLKILL COUNTY. 39^ 

that are unfavorable, either to their civil or religious 
liberty. For whilst a people are incapable of know- 
ing their own interests, or judging for themselves, 
they cannot be governed by free principles, or by 
their own choice ; and though they should not be im- 
mediate slaves of the government under which they 
live, vet they must be slaves or dupes to those whose 
councils they are obliged to have recourse to, and fol- 
low blindly on all occasions, which is the most dis- 
honorable species of slavery. 

" But on the other hand, a design for instructing a 
people, and adorning the minds of their children with 
useful knowledge, can carry nothing in it but what is 
friendly to liberty, and auspicious to all the most sa- 
cred interests of mankind. 

" Were it otherwise, why are so many of the greatest 
and best men, both of the British and German nations, 
engaged in the undertaking ? Why have they, as it 
were, stooped from their high spheres, and even conde- 
scended to beg from house to house, in order to promote 
it ! Is not all this done with the glorious intention of 
relieving from distressful ignorance that was like to 
fall upon you ? Is it not done with a view to call 
you up to all the advantages of free and enlightened 
subjects, capable of thinking and acting for youi^elves ? 
And shall they call you in vain ? God forbid ! If 
by any infatuation, you should neglect the means of 
knowledge and eternal happiness, now offered you, 
think seriously what must be the consequence. You 
will be accountable in the sight of Almighty God, not 
only for your own sad negligence, but for all that mis- 
ery and slavery, which you may thereby entail upon 
your hapless offspring to the latest generations. Your 
very names will be held in abhorrence by your own 
children, if, for the want of instruction, their privi- 
leges should either be abridged here, or they should 
fall a prey to the error and slavery of our restless ene- 
mies. 

"But on the contrary, if proper instructions are begun 



394 HISTORY OP SCHUYLKILL COUNTY. 

now, and constaritly carried on among you, no design 
can ever be hatched against your rehgion or Uberties, 
but what you shall quickly be able to discover and 
defeat. All the arts of your enemies will be of no 
avail to sever you from your true interests, as men 
and as protestants. You shall know how to make 
the true use of all your noble privileges, and instead 
of moving in a dry and barren land, where no water 
is, you and your posterity shall flourish from age to 
age, in all that is valuable in human life. A barren 
region shall be turned into a fruitful country, and a 
thirsty land into pools of water. The wilderness and 
solitary place shall be glad through you, and the de- 
sert shall rejoice and blossom as the rose. Isa. 35." 

A school under this scheme was established ' at 
Easton, in 1755, as will appear from the following, 
copied from a paper published at Easton, by Mr. 
Hetrick : 

EASTON FREE SCHOOL IN 1755. 

The following is a true copy of the original Sub- 
scription list for the erection of a school house, found 
among a bundle of antiquated papers by a friend, 
who has handed it to us for publication, (1843.) This 
document goes to prove that 88 (89) years ago, a 
proper spirit pervaded the settlers, as respects educa- 
tion, and that they were quite as liberal as their pos- 
terity, and perhaps more so, especially if the restricted 
means of the donors and the simplicity of the man- 
ners of the people of that age, are taken into con- 
sideration. 

We have made some enquiry in relation to the 
building and the contributors for its erection. Our 
oldest inhabitants can give but little account of the free 
school of 1755, although the descendants of several 
whose names are subscribed, are yet among us. It 
''wafi'a large one-story log building with a cellar under 



HISTORY OP SCHUYLKILL COUNTY. 395 

it, containing three rooms, one of them large, which 
was used as a church and school room. 

Its site was a few feet east of the German Re- 
formed church, and was removed soon after that 
building was put up, about the time of the Revolution. 
The vane which swung over the first school house 
in Easton, is the only relick preserved. 

William Parsons was a shoemaker, who after- 
wards became Surveyor General of Pennsylvania. 
He surveyed and laid out the town of Easton, and 
was the first prothonotary of the county, which was 
created by the crown, in the year 1752. Mr. Parsons 
died about that time, and is buried in the German 
Reformed burial groun-d, where his tomb-stone can 
yet be seen. Of the forty-two contributors, a large 
number must have been buried out of town. The 
villiage at that time did not contain half that number 
•of heads of families. 



SUBSCRIPTIONS TOWARD BUILDING A FREE SCHOOL HOUSE 
IN EASTON. 

We the subscribers, being truly sensible of the great 
advantages our posterity may reap from the excellent 
charitable scheme lately formed in England, for the 
education of Protestant youth in Pennsylvania, and 
being extremely desirous to encourage and promote 
the same, as far as in our power lies, have engaged 
and agreed, and hereby do engage and agree to, and 
with William Parsons, James Martin, Peter Traxler, 
Esq,, John Lefever, Lewis Gordon 0,nd Peter Kich= 
line. Deputy Trustees, mentioned and appointed by 
the Trustees General of the said charitable scheme, 
that each of us will pay the sum of money, and do 
and perform the work, labor and service in building 
and erecting a school house, which may occasionally 
be made use of as a church for any Protestant min- 
ister, to out names hereunder respectfully set down 



396 



HISTORY OF SCHUYLKILL COUNTY. 



Dated Easton, Pa., the 31st day of 
1755: 



and affixed 
July, A. D., 
William Smith, in behalf of the 

proprietor and trustees, 
William Parsons, 
Lewis Gordon, 
Nicholas Scull, 
Nathaniel Vernon, 
Peter Kichline, 
Christian Rinker, 
Jacob Bachman, 
Jacob Minor, 
Adam Yohe, 
Lewis Knauss, 
Lewis Klotz, 
Henry Becker, 
George Michael Shortz, 
John Sevitz, 
Anthony Esor, 
Charles Reichart, 
John Wagle 
George Ernest Becker, 
John Rinker, 
N. N., 

Daniel Geese, 
Jeremiah Candy Russel, 
Paul Miller, 
John Fricker, 



30£ 
5 
3 
3 
3 
2 
1 
1 
1 
1 



£61 



OOs. OOd. 



10 
10 
7 
15 
15 
15 
15 



10 

7 
5 

5 

6 



Is 



Pennsylvania currency, 
Myer Hart, 20 pounds nails. 
Paul Reesor, 1,000 shingles. 
Jacob Miner, 12 day's work. 
Stephen Horn, 1 week's work. 
Henry Allshouse, 5 day's work. 
John Horn, 5 day's work. 
John Finley, 6 day's work. 
John Nicholas Reeder, 1 week's work. 
Bartholomew Hoffman, 5 day's mason work. 
Robert Miller, 4 day's mason work. 



OOd. 



HISTORY OP SCHUYLKILL COUNTY. 397 

John George Bush, 5 day's carpenter work. 
Jacob Krotz, 5 day's carpenter work. 
James Fuller, 5 day's stone digging. 
John Chapman, 3 day's carting stone. 
Henry Rinker, 30 bushels lime. 
Henry Bush and John Wideman, 30 wagons stone 
and digging. 

Thomas Harris, 50 sash lights. 

There is perhaps no county in the state that can 
vie with Northampton for good schools, academies, 
seminaries, and a college of reputable standing. 

Lafayette College had its origin, says Day, in the 
public-spirited exertions of Hon. James Porter, and a 
number of other intelligent citizens of Easton. A 
charter had been granted in 1826, and a board of 
trustees organized ; but attempts to procure funds 
w ere for several years unsuccessful. It was originally 
designed for a military school, after the model of 
Capt. Patridge's academy; but this plan not meeting 
with general approbation, it was changed in 1832, for 
that of a collegiate institution, on the manual-labor 
system. 

The Rev. Dr. Junkin was appointed president, as- 
sisted by several professors. The legislature having 
failed to make an appropriation in aid of the college, 
an appeal was made to the public spirit of the citizens 
of Easton and Philadelphia, for funds to erect the 
present edifice, temporary accommodations having 
been rented for the first year. This appeal was suc- 
cessful; and on the 4th July, 1833, the cornerstone 
was laid by Hon. J, M. Porter, president of the board 
of trustees, with appropriate ceremonies. 

The edifice is 112 feet by 44, containing in all sixty 
rooms, and has received the name of Brainerd Hall, 
in memory of the pious labors of that devoted mis- 
sionary in this region. The first term was opened in 
the new building in May, 1834, when Rev. Dr. Jun- 
kin and three other professors were duly inaugurated. 



398 



HISTORY OP SCHUYLKILL COUNTY. 



The institution has continued to flourish. In 1840, 
or '41, the Rev. Dr. Junkin resigned and took charge 
of an institution in Ohio ; when he was succeeded by 
the Rev. Yeomans, a graduate of WilUams College^ 
Mass. The Rev. Yeomans has since resigned, and 
Dr. Junkin is again president of the institution. The 
faculty is composed of men of talent and pro>- 
fessed erudition, and the institution commands an 
honorable rank among the literary institutions of this 
country. 

The course of instruction is thorough and liberal, 
as will appear from the subjoined extract, from the 
catalogue of 1844 : 

COURSE OF INSTRUCTION. 

FRESHMEN CLASS. 



First TeTm. 
Livy. 

GraBca Minora completed. 
Graeca Majora commenced.. 
Classical Literature, (Esch- 

enburg's Manual) 
Algebra. 
Plane Geometry, (Davies' 

Legendre.) 



Second T^rm. 
Odes of Horace. 
Grseca Majora. 
Classical Literature. 
Algebra completed. 
Solid and Spherical Ge- 
ometry. 



SOPHOMORE CLASS. 



First Term. 
Horace, Satires & Epistles, 
^schines de Corona. 
Classical Literature. 
Algebra revised. 
Plane Trigonometry. 
Application of Algebra to 

Plane Geometry. 
Geometrical Constructions. 
Spherical Trigpnometry. 



Second Term. 
Cicero de Officiis. 
Demosthenes de Co- 
rona. 
Classical Literature. 
Blair's Rhetoric. 
Analytical Geometry. . 
Surveying. 



HISTORIF OP SCHUYLKILL COUNiTT. 



39^' 



JUNIOR CLASS. 



First Term. 

Tacitus. 

(Edipus Tyrannus, (Sopho- 
cles.) 

Differential and Integral Cal- 
culi, (Young's.) 

Navigation & Nautical As- 
tronomy. 

Optics, (Brewster's.) 

Mechanics began, ( Young 'Sv) 

Chemistry. 



Second Term. 
Cicero de Oratore. 
Euripides' Medea. 
Mechanics completed. 
Descriptive Geomery. 
Linear Perspective. 
Civil Engineering, 
Astronomy. 



SENIOR CLASS. 



First Term. 
Juvenal. 
Longinus. 

Intellectual Philosophy. 
Whateley's Logic. 
Campbell's Philosophy 

of Rhetoric. 
Natural Philosophy. 
Chemistrv. 



Second Term. 
Campbell's Philosophy of 

Rhetoric. 
Moral Philosophy. 
Butler's Analogy. 
Political Economy. 
Constitution of the United 

States. 
Review of Studies. 



Anatomy and Physiology. 

Exercises in public speaking are required from all ; 
the classes weekly throughout the year. 

The Freshmen and Sophomore classes have exer- 
cises in translation and English composition at the, 
discretion of the Faculty. 

Instruction in French and German is provided for 
such as desire. 

The students of all the departments are required to 
attend public worship on the Sabbath, in that church 
which the parent or guardian may designate, or which 
the student, when tha.choice.is left to.him, may prefer, 
to attend. 



400 HISTORY OF SCHUYLKILL COUNTY. 

A record is kept of the punctuality, diligence, schol- 
arship, and general behaviour of each student ; a re- 
port of which is sent to the parent or guardian at his 
request, or at the discretion of the Faculty. 

LECTURES. 

Lectures on Chemistry are given during the first 
session ; on Natural Philosophy, the last session of 
Junior and the first of Senior ; on Mineralogy and 
Geology, the second session ; on Political Economy 
and Jurisprudence, the second session ; on Anatomy 
and Physiology, during both sessions ; Rhetoric and 
Belles Lettres, both the first and second sessions. 

The means of instruction in Chemistry have been 
enlarged. The apparatus is now extensive and in 
good order, and provision is made for a full course 
of lectures and experiments in that department. 



TERMS OF ADMISSION TO THE COLLEGE CLASSES. 

For admission into the Freshmen Class, the appli- 
cant is examined in Arithmetic, English Grammar, 
and Geography ; Latin Grammar, (Gould's Adams',) 
Historia Grseca or Jacob's Latin Reader, Csesar's 
Commentaries, Cicero's Select Orations. Ovid's Met- 
amorphoses (expurgated,) Sallust, Virgil, and the 
first part of Mair's Introduction to Latin Syntax ; 
Greek Grammar, Greek Testament, Grseca Minora 
(in part ;) Algebra through Simple Equations. 

For admission to advanced standing, the applicant 
must sustain examination in the studies completed by 
the class he proposes to enter. 

Testimonials of good character are in all cases re- 
quired. 

The earliest age at which it is advisable for a stu- 
dent to enter the Freshmen Class, is fourteen years. 



HISTORY OF SCHUYLKILL COUNTY. 401 

Commencement is on the third Wednesday of Sep- 
tember. 

The vacation after commencement is six weeks. 
The first session commences at the close of that va- 
cation, and continues twenty weeks. The spring va- 
cation is six weeks. The second session is twenty 
weeks, and closes on the third Wednesday of Sep- 
tember. 

The two Literary Societies of the College hold a 
public exhibition at the close of the first session. The 
annual exhibition of the Junior Class is on the even- 
ing preceding commencement. 

The Literary Societies have two halls in the fourth 
story of the main College building, which are spacious 
and elegantly furnished. Each Society has also an 
extensive and valuable library. 

The Brainerd Evangelical Society has a spacious 
hall appropriated to its papers and library. This So- 
ciety holds its anniversary, and has a public address, 
at the close of the winter session. 

EXAMINATIONS. 

All the classes are examined in the middle and at 
the close of the first session, in all the studies of the 
session. The final examination of the Senior Class- 
begins on the fifth Monday before commencement. 
The other classes are examined in the middle and at 
the close of the second session, as in the first. 

The examinations are public, and are conducted 
before a committee of the Board of Trustees., 



402 HISTORY OP SCHUYLKILL COUNTY. 



EXPENSES 

The price of boarding in the Co.ege refectory is ^1 
871 per week, which for forty weeks is ^75 00 

Tuition, room-rent, use of hbrary and appa- 
ratus, 40 00 

Fuel, stoves, and tending fires for winter 

session, 7 00 

For incidental expenses, 50 cents each ses- 
sion, 1 00 



gl23 00 

Pupils of the Model School, who occupy rooms in 
the College, pay ^15 per session for tuition and room 
rent ; those who do not room in the College, pay $10 
for tuition. Each pupil, not boarding in the College, 
pays $1,50 in the winter session for fuel for the school 
room. 

The bills for each session are payable half at the 
beginning and half at the middle of each session ; ex- 
cept the fuel bill for the winter session, which is all 
to be paid in advance. When payment is promptly 
made according to this rule, a deduction of \2h cents 
per week is made from the price of boarding. 

Washing is done in the Steward's department at 
375 cents per dozen pieces. 

Students provide their own beds and furniture. 

Students under the patronage of the General As- 
sembly's Board of Education, and others who are 
preparing for the gospel ministry, and whose charac- 
ter and circumstances, in the judgment of the Trus- 
tees, entitle them to the benefit, have boarding in the 
College refectory at $1 per week. The Trustees sup- 
ply the balance out of funds provided for that pur- 
pose. 

Students who wish to spend their hours of daily 
exercise in manual labor, for their own pecuniary 



HISTORY OP SCHUYLKILL COUNTY. 403 

benefit, can work on the grounds adjacent to the Col- 
lege, and receive a just compensation for their labor. 

THE MODEL SCHOOL 

Is under the immediate instruction and government 
of the Principal, subject to the general direction of the 
College Faculty. 

The pupils of this school who board in the College, 
have rooms in the College buildings, and take their 
meals in the refectory. They are requn-ed to attend 
public prayers daily in the chapel, and public worship 
in church and the lecture in the College on the Sab- 
bath. 

A select course of English study is pursued in this 
school, by such as wish to become teachers of com- 
mon schools. 

The course of instruction preparatory to admission 
into the College, is also given to such as desire to pur- 
sue their preparatory studies undef the direction of 
the Faculty. 

The Seminaries of Nazareth and Bethlehem, so 
Avell and deservedly favorably known, have already 
been noticed. Besides these institutions, there are 
several academies in these counties of advanced stand- 
ing, exerting a happy influence upon the community. 

The public common school system has been adopt- 
ed in every district in Northampton county ; in every 
district in Monroe, except in Penn Forest and Price 
townships ; in Lehigh, the townships of Heidelberg, 
Lowhill, Lynn, Lower Macungie, Upper Saucon and 
Weisenberg ; in Schuylkill county, the townships of 
Barry, East Brunswig, Lower Mahantango, Upper 
Mahantango, Manheim, Pine Grove, Rush, Union, 
Wayne, West Penn and West Brunswig, have not 
accepted the system. Carbon, a newly organized 
county, has also adopted the system partially. There 
is much room for improvement in the common 
schools. 



APPENDIX: 

CONTAINING THE JOURNALS 



OF 



JAMES YOUNG, COMMISSARY GENERAL, 
Who visited Fort Allen, itc. in 1756 ; 

CAPTAIN JOHN VAN ETTEN, 

At Fort Hyndshaw, Fort Hamilton, &c. &c., and 

COLONEL JAMES BURD, 
"VTho visited a number of Forts in 1758 — embracing a number of 

FACTS OF BEEP INTEREST 

2N THE 
EARLY HISTORY of NORTHAMPTON and ADJACENT COUNTIES. 



YOUNG'S JOURNAL 



A JOURNAL 

OF 

JAMES YOUNG, COMMISSARY GENERAL, 

Of the Musters — from June 19 to June 26, 1756. 



1756, June 19th. At 11 o'clock in the morning I 
came to Reading. I sent an express to Colonel 
Weiser to acquaint him with my intended journey to 
the northern frontier ; that I inclined to muster the 
company posted here, and that I should want some 
men to escort me to the next fort. 

Ammunition at Reading, viz : 25 good muskets ; 
20 want repairing, 11 broken ones; 9 cartouch 
boxes, 240 pounds of powder, and 600 pounds of 
lead. 

At 6 P. M., Col. Weiser came here. I mustered 
his company that is posted here as a guard to this 
place. The company consists of 30 men, viz : 2 ser- 
geants and 28 private soldiers ; 2 of them were ab- 
sent at Col. Weiser's house. 

20. At 2 P. M., I set out from Reading, escorted 
by five men of the town on horse back, for the fort at 



410 APPENDIX. 

North Kill. It is about 19 miles from Reading. The 
road is very bad and hilly — thick of wood. The fort 
is about nine miles to the westward of Schuylkill, and 
stands in a very thick wood, on a small rising ground 
half a mile from the Middle North Kill creek. It is 
intended for a square of about 32 feet each way — at 
each corner is a half bastion of very little service to 
flank the curtains — the stockades are badly fixed in 
the ground, and open in many places. Within is a 
very bad log house for the people ; it has no chim- 
ney, and can afford but little shelter in bad weather. 
When I came here, the Sergeant, who is commander, 
was absent and gone to the next plantation half a 
mile off, but soon came when he had intelligence I 
was there. He told me he had fourteen men posted 
with him, all detached from Captain Morgan's com- 
pany at Fort Lebanon, five of them were absent by 
his leave, viz : Two he had let go to Reading for 
three days ; one he had let go to his own house ten 
miles off, and two men this afternoon a few miles 
from the fort on their own business. There were but 
eight men and the Sergeant on duty. I am of ophi- 
ion there ought to be a commissioned officer here, as 
the Sergeant does not do his duty, nor are the men 
under proper command for the want of a superior 
officer. 

The woods are not cleared for the space of forty 
vards from the fort. I gave orders to cut all the trees 
down for two hundred yards. I inquired why there 
was so little powder and ball here. The Sergeant 
told me, he had repeatedly requested more of Captain 
Morgan, but to no purpose. The provisions here 
are flour and rum for four weeks. Mr. Seely, of 



APPENDIX. 411 

Reading, sends the officers money to purchase meat 
as they want it. 

Provincial arms, &c. Here are eight good mus- 
kets, four rounds of powder and led per man, fifteen 
blankets and three axes. 

21. At eight o'clock Captain Busse, from fort /-. 

Henry, came here with eight men on horse back. 
He expected to meet Col. Weiser here, but Col. 
Weiser wrote him that other business prevented him, 
and desired Captain Busse to proceed with me, and 
return him an account how he found the forts, with 
the quantity of ammunition and stores in each, of 
which I was very glad, as the escort on horse back 
would expedite our journey very much, and be much 
safer. Accordingly we set out for fort_ Lebanon. All — - 
the way from North Kill to Lebanon is an exceed- 
ingly bad road, very stony and mountainous. About 
six miles from North Kill, we crossed the North 
mountain, where we met Captain Morgan's Lieu- 
tenant with ten men, ranging the woods between the 
mountain and Fort Lebanon. We passed by two 
plantations. The rest of the country is chiefly bar- 
ren hills. At noon we came to Fort Lebanon, which 
is situated on a plane ; on one side is a plantation, on 
the other a barren, pretty clear of woods all round, 
only a few trees about fifty yards from the fort, which 
I desired might be cut down. 

The fort is a square of about one hundred feet, 
well stockaded with good bastions, on one side of 
which is a good wall piece. Within is a good guard 
house for the people, and two other large houses 
built by the country people, who have taken a refuge 
here — in all six families. The fort is a little too much 



412 APPENDIX. 

crowded ; on that account I acquainted Captain Mor- 
gan that the Sergeant at North Kill did not do his 
duty, and I believe it would be for the good of the 
service, to have a commanding officer there. On 
which he ordered his Lieutenant, with two men, to 
go and take post there, and sent with him four 
pounds of powder and ten pounds of lead. 

By Captain Morgan's Journal, it appears he sends 
a party of ten men to range the woods four or five 
times a week, and guard the inhabitants at their 
labor. At 1 P. M., I mustered the people, and ex- 
amined the certificates of enlistment, which appear in 
the muster roll. After which I ordered the men to 
fire at a mark ; fifteen or eighteen hit within two feet 
of the centre at the distance of eighty yards. 

Provisions here are flour and rum for a month, 
The commissary sent them money to purchase meat 
as they want it. 

Provincial arms and ammunition : Twenty-eight 
good muskets, ten Avant repairing, nine rounds of 
powder and lead, four pounds of powder, twenty- 
four pounds of lead, thirty cartouch boxes, forty 
blankets, one axe and one wall piece. 

At half-past three P. M., we set out with the former 
escort, and two of Captain Morgan's company, for the 
fort above Allemengel, commanded by Lieutenant 
Ingle — at half-past seven we got there ; it is about 
nineteen miles N. E. from fort Lebanon ; the road is a 
narrow path, very hilly and swampy — about halfway 
we came through a very thick and dangerous pine 
swamp. Very few plantations on this road ; most of 
them deserted, and the houses burnt down. One- 
half a mile westward of this fort is a good plantation ; 



APPENDIX. 413 

the people return to the fort every night. This fort 
stands about one mile from the North mountains ; 
only two plantations near it. 

This fort is a square about 40 feet — very badly 
stockaded, with two log houses at opposite corners 
for locations — all very unfit for defence. The stock- 
ades are very open in many places. It stands on the 
bank of a creek; the woods clear for 120 yards. The 
Lieutentant ranges towards Fort Lebanon and Fort /-^ 
Allen, about four times a week. Much thunder, 
lightning and rain all night. 

Provincial stores : 28 good muskets, 8 want re- 
pairing, 16 cartouch boxes, 8 pounds of powder, 24 
pounds of lead, and 12 rounds for 36 men, 36 
blankets, 1 axe, 1 adz, 2 planes, 1 hammer, 2 shovels, 
9 small tin kettles. 

At 8 A. M., we set out for Fort Allen, at Gnaden 
Hutten. It is about fifteen miles from Allemengel, 
The first seven miles of this road is very hilly, barren 
and swampy — no plantations — the other part of the 
road is for the most part through a rich valley, chiefly 
meadow ground — several settlements, but all the 
houses burnt and deserted. At noon we came to the 
fort. For the last half hour before we came there, 
we had a very severe gust of thunder, lightning, and 
a prodigiously heavy rain. 

This stands on the river Leahy (Lehigh,) in this 
pass through very high hills, is, in my opinion, a 
very important place, and may be of great service, if 
the officer does his duty. It is very well stockaded 
with four good bastions. On one is a swivel gun. 
The works are clear all round it for a considerable 
way, and is very defensible. Within are three good 



414 APPENDIX. 

barracks and a guard room, I found here 15 men 
without any officer or commander. They told me 
Lieutenant Jacob Mies and two men from the fort 
were gone, this morning, with two gentlemen from 
Bethlehem, and four Indians, 15 miles up the country 
to bring down some friendly Indians ; and that the 
Sergeant with three men were gone to Capt. Foulk's, 
late commander here, to receive the pay that is due 
them ; and one was gone to Bethlehem with the 
Sergeant's watch to mend, which was the reason I 
could not muster those present, nor have any account 
of the provisions, but saw a large quantity of beef 
very badly cured. 

I was informed that a captain with a new compa- 
ny was expected there in a day or two to take post 
at this fort. Being very uncertain when the Lieu- 
tenant would return, or the new company come, I 
resolved to proceed to Lehigh Gap, where a detach- 
ment of a company was posted. 

Provincial stores : 27 muskets, 50 cartouch boxes, 
10 pounds of powder, 60 pounds of lead, 20 rounds 
filled for 25 men, 19 axes, 4 broad axes, 2G hatchets, 
43 tomahawks, 3 iron wedges and 1 swivel gun. 

At 4 P. M. set out — at 6 came to Lehigh Gap, 
where I found a Sergeant and eight men stationed at 
a farm house, with a small stockade around it. From 
Fort Allen here, the road is very hilly and swampy. 
There is only one plantation about a mile from the 
gap. I found the people here, were a detachment 
from Captain Weatherolt's company — he is stationed 
on the other side the gap, 3 miles from this with 12 
men. The rest of his company is at Depue's, and 
another gap 15 miles from this. I despatched a 



APPENDIX. 415 

messenger to Capt. Weatherolt, desiring him to come 
here in the morning with the men under his command, 
to be mustered. The people stationed here, and on 
the other side of the gap, I think, may be of great 
service, as it is a good road through the mountain, 
and very steep and high on each side, so may, in a 
great measure, prevent any Indians to pass through 
undiscovered, if they keep a good guard. Here the 
river Lehigli passes through the mountain, and is a 
very rapid stream. 

At 7 in the morning, I mustered the men here. 
The Sergeant informed me that Captain Weatherolt 
was gone 12 miles from this, ?nd he believed on his 
way to Philadelphia for their pay, which was the 
reason the people did not come here, and I finding 
this company so much dispersed at different stations, 
in small parties, I could not regularly muster them ; 
therefore at 9 A. M. I set out for Fort Norris. The 
road for the first six miles is a good wagon road, 
along the foot of the North mountain; the other 
seven miles very hilly and stony. Passed three plan- 
tations on this road — all deserted and the houses 
burnt down. 

At 11 A. M. I came to Fort Norris ; found here a 
Sergeant commanding with 2 1 men. The Sergeant 
told me that the ensign with 12 men was gone out to 
range the woods towards Fort Allen — the captain 
was at Philadelphia since the 16th, for the people's 
pay ; and the other Sergeant was absent at Easton, on 
furlough since the 20th. 

This fort stands in a valley midway between the 
North mountain and the Tuscarora, 6 miles from 
each, on the high road towards the Minnesinks ; it Is 



416 APPENDIX. 

a square, about 80 feet each way, with four half 
bastions, all very completely stockaded, finished and 
defensible. The woods are clear 400 yards round it. 
On the bastions are two swivel guns mounted. With- 
in is a good barrack, guard room, kitchen — also a 
good well. 

Provincial stores : 1 3 good muskets, 3 bursted ones, 
16 very bad, 32 cartouch boxes, 100 pounds of pow- 
der, 300 pounds of lead, 112 blankets, 39 axes, 3 
broad axes, 80 tomahawks, six shovels, 2 grubbing 
hoes, 5 spades, 5 drawing knives, 9 chisels, 3 adzes, 
3 hand-saws, 2 augers and two splitting knives. 

At 1 P. M. the ensign with 12 men returned from 
ranging; they had seen nothing of any Indians. 1 
mustered the whole, 34 in number, stout, able bodied 
men. The ensign has no certificate of enlistment. 
The arms loaded and clean ; the cartouch boxes filled 
with 12 rounds per man. 

Provisions. A large e^uantity of beef very ill cured, 
standing tubs ; a quantity of biscuit and flour, and 
about 50 gallons of rum. 

At. 2 P. M. Captain Weatherolt came here to us ; 
he had been on his way to Philadelphia ; but the mes- 
senger I sent last night overtook him 8 miles from his 
station. He brought me his muster roll of his whole 
company, and certificates of enlistments, and proposed 
to go with me to Samuel Depue's where his lieuten- 
ant and 26 men are stationed, to see them mustered. 
I accepted of his company. 

At 3 P. M. we set forth from Fort Norris on our 
way to Fort Hamilton. At 6 P. M. we came to 
Philip Bosart's farm, 12 miles from Fort Norris; here 
we staid all night. In our way to this house we 



APPENDIX. 417 

found the road very hilly, the country barren — passed 
by three plantations ; all deserted and the houses burnt 
down. In Bosart's house are six families from other 
plantations. 

24th. At 4 A. M. set out from Bosart's ; at 6 came 
to Fort Hamilton ; about 7 miles from Bosart's — a 
good wagon road, and the land better than any I had 
seen on the north side of the mountain. 

Fort Hamilton stands in a corn field, by a farm 
house, in a plain and clear country ; it is a square with 
four half bastions, all very ill contrived and furnish- 
ed ; the stockades are six inches open in many places 
and not firm in the ground, and may be easily pulled 
down. Before the gate are some stockades driven 
into the ground to cover it, which I think might be a 
great shelter to an enemy. I therefore order to pull 
them down. I also order to fill up the other stock- 
ades where they were open. 

I found here a lieutenant and eight men, seven 
were gone to Easton with a prisoner, a deserter from 
General Shirley's regiment. 

Provincial stores — one wall piece, 14 good muskets, 
4 want repairing, 16 cartouch boxes filled with pow- 
der and lead, 28 pounds of powder, 1 3 pounds of lead, 
10 axes, one broad axe, 26 tomahawks, 28 blankets, 
3 drawing knives, 3 splitting knives, 2 adzes, 2 saws 
and one brass kettle. 

At 8 A. M. set out from Fort Hamilton for Samuel 
Depue's, where Captain Weatherolt's lieutenant and 
26 men are stationed. When I came there his mus- 
ter roll was not ready. I therefore proceeded to the 
next fort, ten miles higher up the river (Delaware) — 

at 1 P. M. I came there. It is a good plain road from 

A2 



418 APPENDIX. 

Dupue's — there are many plantations this way ; but 
all deserted and the houses chiefly burnt. 

Found at this fort (Hyndshaw) lieutenant Hynd- 
shaw with 25 men. He told me that the captain with 
five men had gone up the river yesterday, and did 
not expect him back these two days. They had been 
informed from the Jerseys that six Indians had been 
seen and fired at the night before, 18 miles up the 
river. 

This fort is a square about 70 feet each way, very 
lightly stockaded. I gave some directions to alter the 
bastions, which at present are of very little use. It 
is clear all round for 300 yards — the fort stands on 
the banks of a large creek, and about one-fourth of a 
mile from the river Delaware. I think it is a very 
important place for the defence of this frontier. 

At 3 P. M. I mustered the people, and find them 
agreeable to the lieutenant's roll regularly enlisted. 

Finding here such a small quantity of powder and 
lead, and this fort the most distant frontier, I wrote a 
letter to Capt. Orndt, at Fort Norris, where there is 
a large quantity, desiring he would deliver to this fort 
thirty pounds of powder, and ninety pounds of lead ; 
and I promised that he should have proper orders 
from his superior officers for so doing, in the mean 
time my letter should be his security ; in which I hope 
I have not done amiss, as I thought it very necessary 
for the good of the service. 

Provincial stores — 11 good muskets, 14 rounds of 
powder and lead for 30 men, 4 pounds of powder 
and 30 blankets. 

At 7 P. M. came to Samuel Depue's ; mustered 
that part of Captain Weatherolt's company stationed 



APPENDIX. 419 

liere a Lieutenant a twenty-six men, all regularly en- 
listed for six months, as are the rest of his company. 
Around Depue's house is a large but very slight and 
ill-contrived stockade, with a swivel gun mounted on 
each corner. 

Mr. Depue was not at home. His son, with a son 
of Broadhead's, keeping house. They expressed 
themselves as if they thought the Province was 
obliged to them, for allowing this party to be in their 
house, also made use of very arrogant expressions of 
the commissioners, and the people of Philadelphia in 
general. They seem to make a mere merchandize of 
the people stationed here, selling rum at eight pence 
per gill. 

Provincial stores — 13 good muskets, 3 cartouch 
boxes, 13 pounds of powder, and 22 pounds of lead. 

25. At 5 A. M. set out from Depue's for the 
Wind Gap, where part of Weatherolt's company is 
stationed. Stopped at Bosart's plantation to find our 
horses. I was informed this morning, that two miles 
from the house in the woods, they found the body of 
Peter Hess, who had been murdered and scalped 
about the month of February. 

At 1 1 A. M. came to the Wind Gap, when I found 
Captain Weatherolt's ensign, who is stationed here 
with seven men, at a farm house — four only were 
present ; one was gone to Bethlehem with a letter 
from the Jerseys, on Indian affairs ; one was on a 
farm house on duty ; and one absent on furlough from 
the 15th to 22d, but had not yet returned. I told the 
officer he ought to esteem him a deserter. 

I fomrd here six Province muskets, all good, and 
six rounds of powder and lead for each man. I told 



420 APPENDIX. 

Captain Weatherolt to send a supply as soon as pos- 
sible. 

At 3 P. M. set out from Wind Gap, for Easton. 
About half post by Nazareth mill, around which is a 
large but slight stockade, about 400 feet one way, and 
250 feet the other, with log houses at the corners for 
bastions. 

At 6, 1 came to Easton — found here ensign Enslee, 
of Captain Enslee's company, with 24 men. He told 
me the Captain was gone to Philadelphia for the 
company's pay, and one man absent, sick at Bethle- 
hem. 

26. At 9 A. M. I mustered the company stationed 
here ; found them stout able bodied men ; their arms 
in good order. They fired at a mark — 16 out of 21 
hit within 9 inches of the centre, at 80 yards distance. 
The ensign had no certiificate of enlistments, but told 
me that Col. Clapham had carried them with him. 

Provincial stores — 25 good muskets, 25 cartouch 
boxes, with 11 rounds in each, and 25 blankets. 

In Major Parson's charge for the use of the inhabi- 
tants ; 37 bad muskets, a parcel of broken muskets, 
24 cartouch boxes, 12 pair of shoes, 56 po-unds of 
powder, 100 pounds of lead, 14 blankets, 10 axes, 1 
broadaxe, and 6 hatchets. 

27. At Bethlehem. 

JAMES YOUNG. 
Coyn. Gen. of the Muster. 
Philadelph ia,JuIy 2, 1756. 



VAN ETTEN'S JOURNAL. 



A JOURNAL 



OF 



CAPTAIN JOHN VAN ETTEN, 

At Fort Hyadshaw and Tort Hamilton, in the Pennsylvania Forces, from 
December 1, 1756, to July 21, 1757. 



1756, December 1. I went out to patrol my oldest 
Sergeant in the company, to find out if there were 
any Indians on the coast, but none were discovered. 
We returned safe to the fort. 

2. After the guard was relieved, we employed 
ourselves in hauling firewood, and key the garrison, 

4 and 5. Paid some of the men — also for some pro- 
visions. 

6. Kept the men at their posts about the garrison. 

7. I went on scout with two men, and made 
no discovery — returned safe at night, finding all in 
good order. 

8 and 9. The men divided — one part standing sen- 
try, while the other part hauled firewood to the fort. 

10. I went on scout with one of my men — made 
no discovery ; returned to the fort. 

11. My Lieutenant went on his journey to Phila- 



424 APPENDIX. 

delphia, in order to get pay for my men, for three 
months. About eleven o'clock, I went on scout with 
six men ; in going four miles made no discovery ; re- 
turned to the fort at dark. 

12. It being Sabbath and rainy, we all staid in 
garrison. 

1 3. After the guard was relieved, I went on scout 
with six men and one neighbor, and travelled about 
eight miles from the fort, made no discovery ; re- 
turned to the garrison. 

14. After the guard was relieved, I went with 
four men on scout, and sent two men with Jacob 
Swartwood, to guard him, to take some of his grain 
where it might be threshed. 

15. I went with five men on scout, and the said 
Swartwood went again to his place, which is about 
four miles from the fort, and at night when I returned 
home told me, that before the men with him came to 
the field, they saw one small stack of rye, set out in a 
large shock of thirty sheaves on a side, and places 
left in the middle to shoot out at, and a bee-hive set 
on the top. 

1 6. After the guard was relieved, I, with six men, 
went to the place, and ordered two men with wagons 
to come after some time, when I had surrounded the 
field, then to come and take their loads, which was 
done ; but no discovery was made. I, and two men 
went through the woods, and the rest guarded the 
wagons. So all returned safe to the fort. 

17. It snowed. I made a pair of moccasons for 
myself. 

18. After the guard was relieved, I went out on 
scout with six men, and travelled about six miles 



APPENDIX. 425 

from the fort, and found snow in may places half-leg 
deep ; but I discovered no enemy ; all returned safe to 
the fort. 

19. It being the Sabbath, one of the corporals 
went out with four men, on scout ; but made no dis- 
covery ; returned to the fort. 

30. It snowed ; we staid in the garrison. 

21. The corporal, with men assisting, hauled fire- 
wood to the fort, and I went on scout with three 
men; found the snow about knee deep; but went 
four miles ; made no discovery ; returned to the fort 
after dark. 

22. After the guard was relieved, we shoveled 
away the snow around the fort, in order to go to 
work to build a block house. 

23. We all kept the fort. 

24. The snow rendering, to the end of the month, 
unfit for scouting, we cleared the parading place, and 
kept the men to their exercises twice a day, in which 
time I paid off the men. 

January 1, 1757. Kept the fort and exercised the 
men. 

2. Sabbath day ; kept the fort. 

3. Stormy weather. 

4 and 5. Kept the fort. 

6. Hauled firewood for the fort. 

7. Exercised the men twice. 

8. Took the advantage of the snow and hauled 
firewood. 

9. Sabbath day ; kept the fort. 

10. I went on scout with six men, and night 
coming on us we lodged at Daniel Shoemaker^s. 

11. Returned home to the fort. 



426 APPENDIX. 

13, 14 and 15. In the fort. After the guard was re- 
Ueved, hauled firewood. 

16. In the fort. 

17. I sent out a scout with five men, but dis- 
covered nothing. 

1 8. Relieved the guard ; exercised the men. 

19. I went on scout with the Lieutenant and six 
men ; travelled three miles ; returned to the fort, dis- 
covering nothing. 

20. I went on scout with two men ; made no dis- 
covery; returned to the fort. 

21. Relieved the guard, and kept the fort. 

22. I went on scout with one man, about seven 
miles from the fort ; returned, discovered nothing. 

23. Received orders from the Hon. Colonel,* dated 
the 1 6th instant, that as soon as the season would ad- 
mit, to discipline the men in the English exercise, and 
to teach them the Indian method of war, which was 
immediately obeyed. 

30. Received orders from the Hon. Colonel, to 
enlist men to fill up my company, to consist of fifty 
men, including two sergeants, tv/o corporals, and a 
drummer. 

February 4. I went to Major William Parsons, 
informing him of the necessity we were in for the 
want of ammunition. 

6. Received an answer, and ninety-two pounds 
of lead. 

7. Kept the men to their exercise as usual. 
9. Exercise ; bad weather. 

11. After the guard was relieved, hauled wood. 

*Col. Conrad Weiser, 



APPENDIX. 427 

12. Snow ; unfit for exercise. 

14. Kept the men to their exercise. 

16. Hauled firewood for the fort. 

17. The men exercised twice. 

20. Sunday ; kept the fort. 

21. Went on scout with four men ; but finding it 
so bad travelling, and making no discovery, we 
turned back to the fort. 

24. After the guard was relieved, v/e hauled fire- 
wood. 

25. Relieved the guard ; exercised the men. 
March 1. Called the men to exercise at eight 

o'clock, and relieved the guard. 

4. After the guard was releived, I ordered the 
old guard to haul firewood. 

6. Relieved the guard at eight in the morning. 

7. After the guard was relieved, I went on scout 
with ten men ; Avent about six miles ; made no dis- 
covery ; returned to the fort. 

9. Exercised the men twice. 

10. Relieved the guard, and exercised the men 
twice as usual. 

11. After the guard had been relieved, and the 
exercise had been over, I ordered the old guard to 
haul firewood. 

12. After the guard had been relieved, I went on 
soout with six men, travelled about six miles ; made 
no discovery ; returned safe to the fort. 

13. Sunday ; relieved the guard and kept the gar- 
rison. 

14. After the guard had been relieved, I went on 
scout with eight men ; discovered nothing j returned 
to the fort. 



438 APPENDIX. 

16. After the guard had been relieved, I ordered 
the old guard to procure firewood. 

17. Reliei^ed the guard and disciplmed the men, 
IS. After the guard had been relieved, I went 

with five men on scout, but discovered nothing ; re- 
turned to the fort. 

19. After the guard had been relieved, the men 
were employed in hauling wood. 

20. Sabbath day, relieved the guard at eight 
o'clock in the morning; kept the garrison. 

21. I went on my journey to Easton, in order to 
attend court, leaving the charge of the company with 
the Lieutentant. Being obliged to tarry, by reason 
of the weather, I attended the whole teriyi* 

28. I returned home safe to the fort, finding my 
men in health, and all thhigs in good order. 

29. Relieved the guard and disciplined the men. 

30. Relieved the guard ; hauled firewood. 
April 1. After the guard had been relieved, I 

went on scout with four men ; went about four 
miles ; made no discovery ; returned to the fort. 

2. Relieved the guard and disciplined the men. 

3. Sabbath; relieved the guard, and kept the 
fort. 

4. Disciplined the men. 

5. Relieved the guard and hauled firewood. 

6. Disciplined the men, 

7. Received an order, dated 28th of March, from 
Hon. Colonel Weiser, commanding me immediately 
to send a detachment of sixteen men, with an officer, 
to relieve the company stationed at fort Hamilton. 

*Van Etten was one of the Justices of the Peace of North- 
ampton county, and formed one of the Court. 



^ 



APPENDIX. 429 

8. I took possession of said fort according to 
orders, and the company marched off, leaving the fort 
in my care. 

9. Received a copy of a letter from Maj. Parsons, 
sent to the commander at fort Hamilton. I being 
there, and no other, I opened the same, and fomid it 
to be a copy from the original sent by Jacob Snyder, 
ensign, being the then commander at fort Norris, 
with which I would not content myself, but went otf 
immediately to Easton, to see the Major. 

10. Then spoke with the Major at his own house, 
who ordered, that my Lieutenant with twenty-five 
men of my company, should immediately march to 
Reading to the Colonel,* there to receive further 
orders. 

11. Returned to fort Hyndshaw, received the 
original by the way, and acquainted the Lieutenant 
of the aifair. 

12. Got the men ready for to march. 

1 3. Conveyed the said Lieutenant, with said com- 
pany, as far as fort Hamilton. 

14. The Lieutenant marched with said company 
about eight o'clock, from fort Hamilton, and I re- 
turned to fort Hynshaw. 

15. Disciplined the men twice. 

16. I went to see the Major. 

20. Returned home and found all things in good 
order at both forts. The same night an expi^ess came 
from fort Hamilton to fort Hyndshaw, of a murder 
committed about sunset, by the Indians. 

21. I went to fort Hamilton with seven men, and 

* Colonel C. Weiser, who resided at Reading at the time. 



430 APPENDIX. 

found it to be one Cuntraman, a lad of about seven- 
teen years of age, killed and scalped by the Indians ; 
whom I took up and hurried, and returned to fort 
Hyndshaw with my men all safe. 

22. Disciplined the men twice. 

23. I employed the men in hauling firewood to 
the fort. 

24. Sabbath; disciplined the men and kept the 
fort. 

25. Sergeant Leonard Den, with two men, went 
off for subsistance to Samuel Depue's. Within about 
two miles of said Depue's, Sergeant Den was shot ; 
the two men returned, and informed me of it 5 where- 
upon the drummer beat an alarm, and the neighbors 
all gathered into the fort. Myself with seven men 
went immediately off and found him scalped, and en- 
tirely strippped, and shamefully cut, so much so that 
his bowels were spread on the grovmd. I sent off 
three men to Depue's for a wagon, Avhile I with the 
three kept guard. They having come, Ave carried 
him to Depue's, where we kept guard that night. 

26. We buried him in a christian manner, and re- 
turned to fort Hyndshaw. 

27. Disciplined the men; increased our sentinels 
as far as our weak circumstances would allow. 

28. Disciplined the men ; giving them such cau- 
tions as I thought necessary. 

29 and 30. Guarded the neighbors in their neces- 
sary business, with all that could possibly leave the 
fort. 

May 1. Kept the fort. 

2. After the men had been disciplined at eight 



APPENDIX. 431 

o'clock in the morning, firewood was hauled to the 
fort. 

3. Disciplined the men at eight o'clock ; then I 
went on scout with five men ; went about five miles ; 
discovered nothing ; returned safe. 

4. After having disciplined the men at eight 
o'clock, I went on scout with five men about six 
miles; discovered nothing; all returned safe to the 
fort. 

5. About eight o'clock in the morning, news came 
to me that an Indian had been seen about three- 
fourths of a mile from the fort. I went out immedi- 
ately in pursuit of him, with eight men and one 
neighbor ; found it true by discovering his tracks, but 
we could not come up with him — the men from the 
fort saw the Indian running from us at a considerable 
distance ; and they could, at the same time, see some 
of my company, as the few I left to keep the fort af- 
firmed to me, at my return ; but I seeing nothing of 
him, returned with the men to the fort. The same 
day one man came from a field where they guarded 
a neighbor in his business, saw three Indians coming 
down a mountain near said field. I immediately 
went out with said man, and two others, in pursuit 
of them ; but not thinking it proper to go far from 
the fort, it being very weak-handed, stood on guard 
on said mountain, while one went to alarm the guard 
that was in the field, and then returned home to the 
fort ; discovered nothing. 

6. At eight o'clock disciplined the men, after 
which some of my men who had observed the night 
before, as they were on sentry, that the dogs kept an 
unusual barking and running to a particular place, 



432 APPENDIX. 

went to see what the occasion should be, and found 
that an Indian had stood behind a tree about twenty- 
five yards from the fort. I went to see, and found it 
true ; his tracks being visible enough to be seen. 
In the afternoon I went on scout with four men and 
a neighbor, but made no discovery — returned safe to 
the fort. 

7. The men were called to their exercise at the 
usual hour ; after which, I went with four men to a 
smithshop, where we made an instrument to take a 
bullet out of my horse, who was shot when Sergeant 
Den was killed ; all returned safe to the fort. 

S. Sunday ; assisted some of the neighbors with 
their goods and families to the fort. 

9. Disciplined the men ; after which we guarded 
two of the neighbors in their necessary business with 
what men could be spared ; and continued the same 
to the 

15. Sunday ; we all kept the fort. 

16. Though weak-handed, I went on scout with 
four men, and travelled about four miles ; made no 
discoveries ; returned safe to the fort. 

17. Disciplined the men at eight o'clock in the 
morning ; then guarded the neighbors with all I could 
spare from the fort. 

18. Exercised the men twice, and all kept the 
fort. 

19. After exercising the men, guarded the neigh- 
bors with all that could be spared from the fort. 

20. The corporal with three men, went out on 
scout, by my order, travelled about three miles ; 
made no discovery, and returned to the fort. 

21. At four o'clock, afternoon, received a letter 



APPENDIX^ 433 

from Captain Busse, to send a corporal with five 
men to meet him at lea«t on the 22d day, to guard 
him to fort Allen. The men I despatched in half an 
hour. 

22. Sunday -, we few who remained, all kept the 
fort. 

23. About ten o'clock in the morning, I received 
a letter from Major Parsons, in which he desired me 
to come to Easton, to receive my pay, with the pay 
ef my men. I having then but nineteen men left me 
to keep the fort, I took the case, together with my 
men, into consideration, who all begged of me, not 
to leave the fort ; whereupon I wrote to the Major, 
and begged him to consider our circumstances, and 
to excuse me until the men returned. 

24. Disciplined the men at eight in the morning ; 
all kept the fort, being weak-handed. 

25. I went on scout with three menj travelled 
about three miles in the mountains, and discovered 
nothing ; returned to the fort. 

26. Disciplined the men ; all stayed about the fort. 

27. Disciplined the men twice. 

28. At two o'clock in the afternoon, the men who 
with Commissary Young from Easton, came to fort 
Allen, returned all in health. 

29. Exercised the men, and all kept the fort. 

30. I went on scout with three men, and travel- 
led about four miles ; discovered nothing ; returned 
tj the fort. 

31. Disciplined the men at eight o'clock in the 
morning ; in the afternoon I went on scout with four 
men ; went about three miles from the fort ; discover- 
ed nothing ; returned to the fort. 

B2 



434 APPENDIX. 

June 1. The corporal with three men went on 
scout, and gave account of no discovery on their re- 
turn. 

2. I sent five men to Samuel Depue's for subsist- 
ance in the afternoon. The fort was alarmed by 
hearing several guns fired. I immediately with three 
men, went to find out the reason, and found it to be 
some who unwittingly shot at fowls in the river. Our 
men all returned safe about sunset. 

3. I set off on my journey for Philadelphia about 
four o'clock in the afternoon with six men as a guard, 
and came all safe to fort Hamilton, where I found 
every thing in good order. 

4. At eight o'clock in the morning I disciplined the 
men, and gave strict orders to the Sergeant to keep 
the men exact to their duty ; and about four o'clock 
in the afternoon, I pursued my journey. 

5. I lay sick by the way within five miles of 
Easton. 

6. I came to Easton and paid my respects to Ma~ 
jor Parsons. 

7. Notwithstanding my illness, I pursued my 
journey. 

8. About four in the afternoon, I came to Phila- 
delphia, and delivered the express sent to Major Par- 
sons, just as it was sent to him, to his Honor the Gov- 
ernor, who desired me to wait on him at twelve 
o'clock the next day. 

9. I waited on his Honor as requested. Mr 
Peters said that my business should be done the next 
day at nine o'clock in the morning. 

10, 11 and 12- I waited, but my business was not 
done according to expectation. 



APPENDIX. 435 

1 3. About three o'clock in the afternoon I left the 
town. 

14. About two in the afternoon I came to Easton. 
I immediately paid my respects to Major Parsons, 
who told me that I should take a supply of ammuni- 
tion ; whereupon I provided sacks and took one hun- 
dred pounds of powder, and one hundred pounds of 
lead, and a hundred flints. I received also a copy 
from his Honor the Governor's orders, to remove to 
fort Hamilton. I left Easton at about six o'clock ; 
went about five miles. 

15. I came safe to fort Hamilton with the ammu- 
nition, about six o'clock in the afternoon, and found 
all things in good order. 

16. At eight o'clock in the morning, I disciplined 
the men, and ordered them all to shoot at a mark, at 
arms ends ; some of them did exceedingly well ; then 
taking an escort of men with me, I went to fort 
Hyndshaw, where we all arrived safe. I immediate- 
ly called the men to arms, and ordered every one to 
get his clothes, and whatever he had, together as 
quick as possible, and be ready to march to fort 
Hamilton. 

1 7 and 18. After discipling the men as usual, we 
made every thing ready for our march. 

19. About nine o'clock in the morning we all 
marched from fort Hyndshaw with all the baggage, 
and all arrived safe at fort Hamilton, and met with no 
opposition ; found all things in good order there. 

20. At eight in the morning called the men under 
arms, and after exercising them, ordered out six men 
at Samuel Depue's request, to guard him in taking 
his wife to the Doctor at Bethlehem, who tarried all 



436 APPENDIX. 

night at said Depue's. The same day I went on 
scout -with four men and one neighbor, to become 
acquainted in the woods, as also to see if any dis- 
covery could be made of the enemy ; but I made no 
discovery •, returned to the fort. 

21. At eight o'clock exercised the men. At about 
twelve o'clock the guard that accompanied Samuel 
Depue and his wife, returned to the fort ; then I 
ordered a guard of ten men, who went olf under the 
care of a corporal, with Samuel Depue, Avith orders 
that after they had guarded said Depue as far as need- 
ful, to carry a message from me to the Major at 
Easton, and to return as soon as a despatch could be 
made. 

22. Exercised the men that remained at the fort 
as usual. Nothing extraordinary happened ; so all 
kept the fort. 

23. In the morning, near eleven o'clock, the fort 
was alarmed by some of the neighbors who had 
made their escape from the enemy ; five of them in 
company, near Broadhead's house, seeking their 
horses, in order to go to mill, were fired upon by the 
enemy ; and said that one of them, John Tidd by 
name, was killed. Whereupon I immediately drafted 
nine men, myself making the tenth, in as private a 
manner as possible, and as privately went back into 
the mountains, in order to make a discovery, giving 
strict orders to those left, to fire the wall-piece to alarm 
us if any attack should be attempted on the fort, in 
my absence. There were but six ment left at the 
fort ; and coming in sight of said house, on the back 
side, I perceived some smoke arise near the house ; 
then travelling about a quarter of a mile, in order to 



APPENDIX. 437 

surround them, we heard four guns, the first of which 
being much lounder than the rest, I expected the fort 
was attacked ; \vliereupon we retreated about a 
quarter of a mile, and hearing no more guns, my 
counsel was to go to the house ; but my pilot, who was 
well acquainted with the woods, thought it best to 
place ourselves in ambush, for they would come that 
way, he said ; and as we ascended the mountain in 
order to place ourselves, we saw the house in a blaze, 
and the pilot thought best to retire a little nearer be- 
tween the house and the fort, where we might have 
a better view ; and in the retreat we heard fourteen 
guns fired as quick in succession as one could count. 
Then we placed ourselves in two companies, the bet- 
ter to way-lay them; the party that was nearest be- 
tween the house and the fort, and saw twenty-seven 
endeavoring to get between them and the fort. I 
with the other party saw five more coming on the 
other side; we found that we were discovered, and 
likely to be surrounded by a vast number, wherefore 
we all retreated, and got between them and the fort, 
then halting, they came in view; I then challenged 
them to come, and fired at them ; and although at a 
considerable distance, it was generally thought one 
of them was killed, by their squatting and making off. 
Then we all returned to the fort. Immediately upon 
our return, a scout of thirteen men from the Jerseys, 
who were in search of Edward Marshall's wife, who 
was killed sometime ago, came to the fort, being led 
there by seeing the smoke and hearing the guns fired, 
who all seemed forward to after the Indians, when I 
with nine men went out with them ; but having got 
some distance out, they would go to the house to see 



438 APPENDIX. 

whether the said man was killed. Being come, we 
found him killed and scalped ; his body and face were 
cut inhumanly. There were also some cattle lying 
dead on the ground ; whereupon they all went oft', 
and left me with my small number to take care of the 
dead man, whereupon we took him up and returned 
to the fort, in which time my men that had gone to 
Easton returned to the fort. 

24. At about nine in the morning, having made 
ready, I went with eighteen men and buried the man, 
then went from the grave in search and found fifteen 
cattle, horses and hogs dead, beside two that were 
shot, one with five bullets, the other with one, and 
yet there are many missing out of which the enemy 
took, as we judge, the value of two beeves and almost 
one swine. In the evening sent an express by two 
men to Major Parsons. 

25. Disciplined the men ; nothing extraordinary 
happened ; all kept the fort ; at eight two men that 
had gone with the express to Easton, returned in 
safety to the fort. 

26. Early in the morning, I received the Major's 
letter, in which he shewed himself very uneasy that 
the men at fort Norris had not joined me, and desired 
me to send to fort Norris, to know the reason, and 
thinking it might be occasioned for want of carriages 
to bring their stores, he desired me to endeavor to 
send a wagon thither. Accordingly as I was en- 
deavoring all I could, in compliance with the Major's 
desire, about three o'clock in the afternoon, Lieut. 
Hyndshaw came to the fort with ten men from Cap- 
tain Weatherold, and six from fort Norris, showing 
his'order from Colonel Weiser for him to command 



APPENDIX. 439 

fort Hamilton, and for me to abide with a small num- 
ber of men at fort Hyndshaw. 

21. At eight in the morning, I called my men un- 
der arms as usual, and drafted eleven, sent them un- 
der the care of a corporal, with three neighbors in 
search of some cattle, which, they feared, had been 
taken or killed by the enemy, at which time the Lieu- 
tenant vmdertook to talk with me, and proposed to me 
that if I would let him have six out of the men he 
had from Captain Weatherold, he would go to fort 
Hyndshaw, and stay there until further orders, and 
leave the six men who he brought from fort Norris 
with me, which I could not comply with, as not being 
in my power. Having moved to fort Hamilton by 
his Honor the Governor's order, there to be rein- 
forced by a detachment from fort Norris, and there 
to stay till further orders, at which the Lieutenant 
went off with a sergeant and a waiter he brought 
with him from fort Augusta, and left the sixteen men 
he had brought under no ones care. The scout that 
had gone out, all returned safe to the fort, finding 
what they went in search of, all well. 

2S. After exercising my men as usual, I sent out 
a scout of twelve men, under the care of the Sergeant, 
who travelled about six miles out ; all returned safe 
to the fort, having made no discovery. I not being 
fully satisfied on account of the men left with me, 
whom I could do no less than feed and give them 
their proper allowance of rum, wherefore I wrote to 
Major Parsons, laying the circumstances of the mat- 
ter as near as possible before him, desiring his advice 
what to do in the case, the which I sent off in the 
evening by the Sergeant and one of the men. 



440 APPENDIX. 

29. After exercising the men, I sent off six men 
under the care of the eoporal, Avith six of those men 
that the Lieutenant left, whO' voluntarily went to assist 
and to guard one Peter Snyder in taking off some cat- 
tle, which he had left back sometime ago in fleeing 
from being killed by the enemy in the night. Th« 
Sergeant and his men returned safe from Easton with 
a letter from the Major, in which he advised me to 
put the said men on duty, who were left with me : 
and whereas he expected Colonel Weiser to be here 
in a few days, to keep the fort until he came. He 
also desired me to endeavor to hasten Lieutenant 
Engle's march to fort Hamilton. 

30. I put the men left with me on duty. In the 
afternoon the men that guarded Peter Snyder, all 
i^eturned safe to the fort 

July 1. In the morning called my men under 
arms ; drafted ten men, whom I sent under the care 
of the Sergeant, with nine of those men the Lieuten- 
ant had left at the fort, whom I ordered whither and 
how far they should travel and scout, the which they 
performed, and returned at about one o'^clock in 
the afternoon ; the Lieutenant came past the fort, 
stopping at John McMichael's, who soon after came 
to the fort and showed an oixler from Colonel Weiser 
that I should resign the command at fort Hamilton to 
him, upon which I called my men under arms, and as 
I was sending for the Lieutenant to give up the com- 
mand to him, the sentinel hearing music acquainted 
me with it ; I expected it was the Colonel coming, I 
delayed until the Colonel came, who weighing the 
circumstances of things, still continued me in posses- 
sion of said. fort. 



APPENDIX. 441 

2. At eight in the morning, the men were called 
to arms, at which time the Colonel took a view of i\\e 
men and their arms, and finding all in good order ; 
and after giving orders for the regulation of the com- 
pany at about twelve o'clock, the Colonel with his 
attendants marched off ; after which we all kept the 
fort. 

3. All kept the fort, it being Sunday. 

4. After discipling the men, a party of twelve men, 
under the command of a Sergeant, sent to Samuel 
Depue's with a team for necessary subsistance, all 
returned safe to the fort in the evening, according to 
orders. 

5. Very rainy weather ; unfit for scouting or ex- 
ercise ; all kept the fort. 

6. At eight in the morning I called the men to 
exercise and gave them the necessary counsel how to 
behave according to the orders given to me by the 
Colonel; at which time complaints were made to me 
by some of the men, that same neighbors that resided 
in the fort were lousy, by which means the whole 
garrison would soon be in the same condition. I then 
ordered the corporal with three men to assist him ta 
make a search, and he found that one Henry Cuntra- 
man and his family, and one John Hillman and his 
family, were lousy. I ordered them out of the fort 
to their own houses, it being but eight or nine rods 
from the fort. I then employed the men to clean the 
fort within doors and without, which was accordingly 
done. I also sent out a scout of four men, with three 
neighbors, who voluntarily went, in hopes to find 
some cattle they had missed^ and to return the same- 



442 APPE"NDTX. 

day, which they did in the evening ; making no dis- 
covery of any enemy. 

7. At eight in the morning I called the men to 
their exercises, then divided the men into two guards, 
each guard to stand their day ; those that were not on 
guard to be employed in scouting, guarding the 
neighbors, and in things necesssary to be done about 
the fort, and gave strict orders to those that were on 
guard, that they should not leave their post, nor go 
from fort to fort ; and that every sentinel should be- 
have well on his post. About one o'clock in the 
afternoon, having occasion to go to John McMichael's, 
I saw John Jough coming out of the woods with 
hoop-poles on hi-s shoulder, who was one of the 
guard ; immediately the corporal came to said house. 
I then went home, and finding the glass run out, I 
examined the matter, and found that the sentinel had 
stood his proper time out, and ought to be relieved, I 
therefore called the next man on the list, and saw to 
his relief myself The men that were not on guard, 
I employed in banking the earth against the stockades, 
to prevent the waters settling in and running into the 
well, what I found to be the occasion that the water 
was so bad in the well. 

S. At eight in the morning I relieved the guard ; 
after which 1 employed the old guard in cleaning out 
the well. 

9. After the guard had been relieved, a scout of 
ten men with the Sergeant went with some of the 
neighbors to Mr. Broadhead's place, who went on 
necessary business ; met with no opposition ; all re- 
turned safe to the fort. 

10. Sunday. A scout of six men went to Samuel 



APPENDIX. 44S 

Depue's on necessary business ; on their return, they 
heard, they said, a person whisthng, whom they sup- 
posed to be an Indian ; but seeing nothing, all re- 
turned safe to the fort. 

11. After the guard had been relieved, the Ser- 
geant with the old guard, ten men, were sent out on 
scout to the south-east, and as far as they could return 
by night, which was performed. Meeting no oppo- 
sition, not discovering any signs of the enemy, all re- 
turned safe to the fort. 

12. At eight in the morning I called the men to 
their exercises, and relieved the guard; after which, on 
John McMichael's importunity, I ordered ten men as 
a guard, where he was cutting his harvest, some dis- 
tance from the fort, with whom I went myself, and 
placed them to the best advantage I could, ordering 
none to fire his gun, except at an enemy ; and that 
three guns should be an alarm. They meeting no 
opposition, all returned safe to the fort. 

13. After the men had exercised, and the guard 
had been relieved, it was my intention to guard John 
McMichael as the day before, but his son-in-law 
coming from a long journey or voyage, detained him 
from labor ; wherefore I then took the old guard, 
consisting of ten men and three neighbors, with whom 
I went on a scout, directing my course south about 
five miles from the fort, from thence west two miles, 
thence, by judgment, northerly, so as to come to the 
fort, in which way we came by the Separatist's meet- 
mg house, where we found the enemy had lodged not 
long since ; they leaving a bed of fern even in tha 
pulpit ; but meeting no opposition, all returned safe 
to the fort. 



444 APPENDIX. 

14. At seven in the morning I called the men t<? 
their exercises, and the guard being relieved, I then 
went with John McMichael and ten of my men, as a 
guard, to protect him and the men he employed at 
his harvest ; posting five men a small distance from 
the field, which I thought best to discover the enemy 
if any should attempt to fall upon the people at work, 
the other five I posted in the field. At about three 
o'clock in the afternoon, I went with the corporal 
around the out sentinels as privately as we could, and 
found them all on their guard. 

15. It being very rainy, and unfit to be out with 
arms, we all kept the fort. 

16. The rain continuing till near twelve o'clock ; 
I then went to John McMichael's, and asked him 
whether he was ready to go to his harvest ; but I saw 
no preparation or inclination for it, wherefore I went 
to the fort, intending to go on scout with a part of the 
men after dinner, but before we were ready, four men 
came to the fort, with an order from Colonel Weiser, 
dated June 14, 1757, the contents were as follows : 
That he had sent orders to Lieutenant Hyndshaw, to 
attend the treaty with the ten men of Captain Weath- 
erold's company, and ordered me therefore, without 
fail to send ten men from fort Hamilton to replace 
those ordered away ; whereupon I immediately draft- 
ed nine men, the corporal making the tenth, whom I 
sent off to the Lieutenant the same day, as soon as 
they could get ready, which was about half an hour 
after receiving the Colonel's orders, to the Lieutenant, 
to station them as he thought fit ; the which he posted 
at S. Depue's. 

17. Sunday; seven of my small party, and fowc 



APPENDIX, 445 

neighbors -went on scout under the command of the 
Sergeant, who travelled southwesterly about six 
miles, then taking a compass northerly, all returned 
safe, making no discovery of an enemy. 

18. At eight in the morning, I went with five men 
and guarded John McMichael at his harvesting place^ 
placed them sentinels a small distance from the field, 
and two in the field, with the men at work ; meeting 
no opposition, all returned to the fort. 

19. Early in the morning, one Garret Broadhead 
applied to me for a guard, to whom I said, I would 
do for him what lay in my power with the (ew men 
I had. I then ordered five men under the care of the 
Sergeant, and went myself with one man to accom- 
pany me to the fort, and placed the sentinels in the 
best manner I could for safety ; leaving orders with 
the Sergeant, that firing three guns should be an 
alarm ; and then returned to the fort, and attended 
guard until the second double sentry. 

20. Guarded Broadhead 's as the day before ; all 
returned safe to the fort. 

21. In compliance with the Colonel's orders, early 
in the morning, 1 sent to Samuel Depue's for the 
mare he had in keeping, in order to send my message 
to the Colonel at Easton, who returned with said 
mare, safe in the evening. 

Also four men guarded John Drake at his harvest, 
with orders to give an account of what happened ; 
which was all well ; but as to their behavior after 
their coming to the fort, I shall acquaint the Colonel 
of the matter. 



SURD'S JOURNAL 



J 



A JOURNAL 

OF 

COLONEL JAMES BURD, 

From February 16th, 1758, to March 10th, 1758. 



February 16, 1758. Thursday . This morning 
I set out from Lancaster to visit the troops from Sus- 
quehanna to Delaware ; took Captain Hambright 
along with me. This evening got to Barny Hughes' 
where I staid all night — severe weather and. bad 
roads. 

Friday, \lth. This morning Captain Hambright 
was taken very bad, which obliged me to stay here 
all this day. Sent an express to Lancaster for Doc- 
tor Thomson — the Doctor arrived here in the after- 
noon. 

Saturday, 18th. I was obliged to leave Captain 
Hambright here. I set off this morning at 9, A. M., 
for Hunter's Fort; at 2, P. M., arrived at Harris'; 
found Lieut. Broadhead and Patterson, and Commis- 
sary Galbraith here, and twenty men. After 3, P. 
M., I set off for Hunter's Fort ; arrived there at dark ; 
C2 



450 APPENDIX. 

found Captains Patterson and Davis here with eighty 
men. The Captains informed me that they had not 
above three loads of ammunition a man — I ordered 
Mr. Barney Hughes to send up here a barrel of pow- 
der and lead answerable ; in the meantime, borrowed 
of Thomas Gallagher four pounds of powder and one 
hundred pounds of lead. I ordered a review of the 
garrison to-morrow morning at 9 o'clock. 

Sunday, 19th. Had a review this morning of 
Captain Patterson's company, and foimd them com- 
plete, fifty-three men, forty-four province arms, and 
forty-four cartouch boxes — no powder, nor lead. I 
divided one-half pint of powder, and lead in propor- 
tion, a man. I found in this fort four month's pro- 
visions for the garrison. 

Captain Davis with his party of fifty-five men was 
out of ammunition. I divided one-half pint of pow- 
der and lead in proportion to them. Captain Davis 
has got twelve hundred weight of flour for the ba- 
teaux. Sundry of the bateaux are lacking that they 
swim, and must be left behind. 

Captain Patterson cannot scout at present for want 
of oflicers ; I ordered him to apply to the country to 
assist him to stockade the fort agreeable to their pro- 
mise to his honor, the Governor. There are three 
men sick here. 

This day, at 11, A. M., I marched for Fort Sivett- 
arrow (Swatara ;) got to Crawford's, fourteen miles 
from Hunter's ; here I staid all night — it rained hard. 

Had a number of applications from the country for 
protection; otherwise they would be immediately 
obliged to fly from their settlement. I appointed to 
meet them to hear th-^.ir complaints, and proposals, on 



APPENDIX. 451 

Tuesday, at 10, A. M., at Fort Swettarrow. The 
country is thickly settled. This march was along the 
Bkie mountains — here are very fine plantations. 

Monday, 20 fh. I marched this morning at 11, A. 
M.; met a sergeant and twelve men, who marched 
with me back to Swettarrow Fort, at 4, P. M. The 
roads extremely bad — the soldiers marched with great 
difficulty. Found Captain Allen and thirty men here. 
This is eleven miles from Crawford's. 

Tuesday, 21st. Reviewed the garrison this morn- 
ing at 10, A. M., and found thirty-eight men, viz: 
twenty-one belonging to Capt. Allen, and seventeen 
of a detachment from Captain Weiser's company ; of 
Captain Allen's, thirteen were for three years. No 
province arms fit for use ; no kettles, no blankets, 
twelve pounds of powder, and twenty-five pounds of 
lead; no powder horns, no pouches, nor cartouch box- 
es; no tomahawks, nor provincial tools of any kind 
— two month's provision. 

Some soldiers absent, and others hired in their 
place, which has been a custom here. The soldiers 
are under no discipline. I ordered a sergeant and 
twelve men to be always out upon the scout from 
hence to Crawford's, keeping along the Blue moun- 
tain, altering their routes, and a target to be erected 
fix inches thick in order to practice the soldiers in 
shooting. 

This day 12 M.,the country pleople came here ; I 
promised them to station an officer and twenty-five 
men at Robertson's mill. This mill is situated in the 
centre between the forts Swettarrow and Hunter. 
This gave the people content. 

I marched at 1 P. M., for fort Henry ; at 3 P. M., 



452 APPENDIX. 

got to Souder's, seven miles ; left Lieutenant Broad- 
head to march the party four miles, to Snevely's, there 
to halt all night, and to march to fort Henry in the 
morning, six miles. The roads being very bad ; 
marched myself with Adjutant Kern and eight men 
on horse back ; arrived at fort Henry at 5 P. IVI. 
Found here Captain Weiser, Adjutant Kern, and the 
ensigns Biddle and Craighead, doing duty with nine- 
ty men. Ordered a review o the garrison to morrow 
at 9 A. M. 

Wednesday 22nd. Had a review this morning at 
9 A. M. ; found ninety soldiers under good command, 
and fine fellows. I examined the stores, and found 
about two months' provision in store, and am in- 
formed by the commanding officer, there is two 
months' more provision, about six miles from here, at 
Jacob Myer's mill. No powder, two hundred and 
twenty-four pounds of lead, no flints, about eighty 
provincial arms belonging to these two companies, 
but all good for nothing. 

I ordered ensign Craighead with eighteen men of 
this garrison, to march to-morrow morning to fort 
Swettarrow, and there to apply to Captain Allen, 
to receive from him seven men, and with his party 
of twenty-five men, to march from thence to Robert- 
son's mill, there to take post, to order from thence a 
sergeant, corporal and eight men to the house of 
Adam Read, Esq., and to employ his whole party in 
continual ranging to cover these frontiers. This 1 
found myself under a necessity of doing, otherwise 
several townships here, would be evacuated in a few 
days. 

I ordered ensign Haller to march back my escort 



APPENDIX. 453 

to Hunter's fort to-morrow morning, and Captain 
Weiser to continue to range from this to fort North 
Kill and Swettarrow, to employ all his judgment to 
way-lay the enemy, and protect the inhabitants. This 
is a very good stockade fort, and every thing is in 
good order, and duty done pretty well. 

I marched to-day at 11 A. M., and arrived at 
Conrad Weiser's at 3 P. M., fourteen miles, where I 
found four quarter casks of powder belonging to the 
province, three of which I ordered to fort Henry, and 
one to fort Swettarrow ; no lead here ; very bad 
roads; cold weather; staid all night. 

Thursday 23rd. I marched this morning and ar- 
rived at Reading at 3 P. M. ; found Captain Morgan 
here. This is fourteen miles from Mr. Weiser's. I 
examined the stores here, and found seventy-seven 
blankets, eight pounds of powder, three hundred 
pounds of lead, and half a cask of flints. I ordered 
fifty-six blankets to be sent to Captain Patterson's 
company, and eleven to Captain Allen's, two hundred 
pounds of lead to fort Henry, and one hundred 
pounds to Swettarrow. I gave the eight pounds of 
powder to Captain Morgan, and four hundred flints 
to each company. 

Before I came to Reading, Adjutant Kern had sent 
by Lieutenant Engel, blankets for four companies, 
viz : Captains Orndit's Weatherholt's, Davis' and 
Garraway's, two hundred and twenty-four, and one 
quarter cask of powder, three hundred bars of lead, 
and sixteen hundred flints. 

Friday 24th. This morning I set out for fort 
William. Arrived at Peter Rodarmil's at 2 P. JVf., 



454 APPENDIX. 

fifteen miles from Reading. It stormed and blowed 
so prodigiously, so I staid here all night. 

Saturday 25th. The snow deep ; I marched this 
morning for fort William ; arrived at fort William at 
12 M. Here were Lieutenant Humphreys, and En- 
sign Horry. I ordered a review of the garrison at 2 
P. M. At 2 P. M. reviewed the garrison, and found 
fifty-three good men, but diffident in discipline. The 
stores consist of three quarter casks of powder, one 
hundred and fifty pounds of lead, four hundred flints 
and fifty-six blankets ; no arms fit for use, no kettles 
nor tools, nor drum ; two months provision. 

Here I found a target erected ; I ordered the com- 
pany to shoot at the same ; set them the example 
myself by wheeling round and firing by the word of 
command. I shot a bullet into the centre of their 
mark, the size of a dollar — distance, one hundred 
yards. Some of them shot tolerably bad. Most of 
their arms are very bad. 

I ordered Captain Morgan to continue to patrol to 
North Kill and Allemengel. 

Sunday 26th. I marched from here at 10 A. M.; 
went over the mountains to Mr. Everitt's, where 
Captain Weatherold is stationed. The snow exceed- 
ingly deep ; I could make little way. At 3 P. M. ar- 
rived at Valentine Philteprot's, twenty miles. Here 
I staid all night. 

Monday 21th. I marched this morning at S A. M. 
for Mr. Everitt's ; arrived at 9 A. M., four miles. I 
ordered a review of that part of the company that is 
here. I found Captain Weatherholt, Lieutenat Gei- 
ger, and twenty-four men, three being sick and absent; 
three months' provision ; five pounds of powder ; no 



APPENDIX. 4,fj5 

lead ; each man has a pound of powder in his car- 
touch box, and lead in proportion ; no kettles, no 
blankets, twenty provincial arms, 

1 ordered Captain Weatherholt fifty-six blankets, 
twenty-five pounds of powder, fifty bars of lead, and 
four hundred bars of lead ; also that Captain Weath- 
erold to scout to the westward ten miles, and to the 
eastward ten miles ; and Lieutenant Geiger from 
hence to his post in Colonel Armstrong's battalion. 

I marched from thence to fort Allen at 1 1 A. M. ; 
got to the top of the Blue mountain at 2 P. M. ; from 
hence saw Allemengle ; it is a fine country ; but the 
country on the north side of the mountain is an entire 
barren wilderness, not capable of improvement. I 
arrived at fort Allen at half after 2 P. M. A prodig- 
ious hilly place and poor land, fifteen miles from Mr. 
Everitt's. I ordered a review of this garrison to mor- 
row at 8 A. M. 

Tuesday 2Sth. At 9 A. M. I reviewed this gar- 
rison. Doing duty, Captain Orndit, Lieutenants Hays 
and Laugherry, and -Ensign Meixill, and seventy-five 
men. This is a very good garrison. In the stores, two 
months' provision, two hundred and twenty-five 
pounds of powder, three hundered pounds of lead, 
five hundred flints, two swivel guns, twenty-six pro- 
vincial arms, bad ones, no drum, no kettles, no 
blankets, one spade, one shovel, one grubbing hoe and 
fourteen bad axes. 

This is a very poor stockade; surrounded with hills, 
situated on a barren plain, through which the river 
Lechy (Lehigh) runs, at a distance ot seventy yards 
from the fort. There is scarce room here for forty 
men. I ordered Captain Orndit to regulate his rang- 



456 APPENDIX. 

ing by his intelligence, from time to time, as he in- 
formed me that five Indians from Bethlehem have 
promised faithfully to Captain Orndit, to come here, 
and reconnoitre the woods constantly around, and to 
furnish him with intelligence. I also directed that a 
target six inches thick, should be put up to teach the 
soldiers to shoot. 

I set off from here at 10 A. M. for Lieutenant In- 
gle's, or Intel's post ; arrived at Ingle's post at 4 P. 
M. ; ordered a review immediately, and found here 
Lieutenant Ingel and thirty good men, in a very bad 
stockade, which he is just finishing, fifteen miles from 
fort Allen. The stores are ten pounds of powder, ten 
pounds of lead, twelve provincial arms, bad ; no 
blankets, four spades, three shovels, two grubbing 
hoes and four axes. I left for, arrived at Lieutenant 
Snyder's station at 7 P. M., eight miles. I ordered a 
review to-morrow morning here ; staid all night. 

Wednesday, March 1st. I reviewed this morning, 
and found here Lieutenant Snyder and twenty men 
undisciplined, fifteen pounds of powder, thirty pounds 
of lead, no blankets, eight provincial arms, bad. 

Lieutenant Humphreys relieved Lieutenant Sny- 
der this morning. I ordered Lieutenant Snyder to 
his post over the Susquehanna. I have been informed 
by the officers here. Lieutenants Engel and Snyder, 
that Wilson, Esq., a magistrate in this (North- 
ampton) county, has acquainted the farmers that they 
should not assist the troops, unless the officers imme- 
diately pay, and thatsaid Wilson has likewise informed 
the soldiers, they should not take their regimentals, as 
it only puts money in their officers' pockets. I found 
a Sergeant confined here on account of mutiny, and 



APPENDIX. 457 

have ordered a regimental court martial this morn- 
ing. At this station there are two baracks ; no 
stockade. 

I marched from here to Lieutenant Hyndshaw's 
station at 10 A. M. ; arrived at Nazareth at 1 P. M., 
eight miles ; dined here ; set off again at 2 P. M. ; 
arrived at Tead's at 3 P. M., six miles. Here I 
found Ensign Kennedy, with sixteen men, who in- 
formed me that Lieutenant Hyndshaw, and Ensign 
Hughes would be here one hour hence. At half 
after 5 P. M., Messrs. Hyndshaw and Hughes arrived 
with fourteen men, I ordered a review, and found 
thirty good men. Stores — fifty pounds of powder, 
one hundred pounds of lead, no flints, one wall piece, 
one shovel, thirteen axes good for nothing, and twen- 
ty tomahawks, fifty-six blankets, forty-six guns and. 
forty-six cartouch boxes ; little provision here, and no 
conveniency to lay up a store. This is very bad quar- 
ters ; the house is built in a swamp ; bad water. 

Thursday 2nd. I marched from here at 9 A. M. 
for Samuel Depue's, went by way of fort Hamilton, 
to view that place. Arrived at fort Hamilton at 2 P. 
M. ; reviewed it, and found it a very poor stockade, 
with one large house in the middle of it, and some 
families living in it ; thfs is fifteen miles from Tead's. 

I arrived at Mr. Depue's at 4 P. M., six miles ; 
snowed much, and prodigiously cold ; ordered a re- 
view to-morrow at 9 A. M. 

This is a fine plantation, situate on the river Dela- 
ware, twenty-one miles from Tead's, and one hundred 
miles from Philadelphia ; they go in boats from here 
to Philadelphia, by the river Delaware, which carry 
about twenty-two tons. This place is thirty-five 



458 APPENDIX. 

miles from Eastoii, and thirty-eight from Bethlehem. 
There is a pretty good stockade here ; four swivels 
mounted ; good accommodations for soldiers, 

Friday SrcL I reviewed this garrison and found 
here twenty -two good men, fifty pounds of powder, 
one hundred and twenty-five pounds of lead, no flints, 
a great quantity of beef, I suppose eight months' pro- 
vision for a company, but no flour ; plenty of flour at 
the mill, about three hundred yards from the fort. 
My horse being very tired, I am obliged to halt here 
to-day. Extremely cold. The country apply for -b 
company to be stationed here. I ordered Ensign 
Hughes, at Swettarrow, to this post. 

Saturday 4M. I set ofi:' this morning for Easton ; 
extremely cold ; arrived at Tead's, twenty-one miles, 
at 1 P. M. ; dined here. At 2 P. M. I set off"; arrived 
at Easton at 7 P. M., twelve miles ; staid all night. 
No provincial stores in this town ; only ten pounds 
of powder in care of John Drinker, Sheriff'. 

Sunday 5th. At 1 P. M. I set out from here for 
Bethlehem; arrived at 4 P. M., twelve miles; no 
provincial stores here. Tedyuscung, Samuel Evens, 
and a great many Indians came to see me ; they sup- 
ped with me, and desired their compliments to his 
Honor the Governor, Commissioners and Assembly, 
and desired to assure them, that they remain firm 
friends. 

This evening, sent for William Edmonds and 
Thomas Pean, the principal men here, and acquainted 
them that as the government had taken the Indian trade 
into their own hands, it was expected that they, nor 
no other person, or persons in this province, would 
attempt to deal with the Indians, and they assured 



APPENDIX. 459 

me they woiild not for the future. Here I staid al! 
night. 

Monday 6th. This morning set otf for Philadel- 
phia ; arrived at 6 P. M., at George Good's tavern, 
thirty-two miles; roads bad, but good weather ; staid 
here all night. 

Tuesday 1th. This morning set out again for 
Philadelphia ; arrived at 8 P. M., twenty-two miles. 

JAMES BURD. 

Philadelpnia, March 10, 1758. 



"ADDENDA." 



FRAGMENT OF A JOURNAL, 

Containing an account of doings at Tcrt North Kill, for a period ofiwo 
mouths and a half, viz : from June 13 to August 31. 



(]:j= Though the name of the writer if? not given, nor the year, yet it 
may be safely set down that the doings mentioned in the journal did 
take place either in 1755 or 1756. — Compiler. 



June 13. Received orders from Lieutenant Colonel 
Weiser to march from Reading with all the company- 
remaining there, the rest being commanded to fort 
Augusta. Accordingly I set out from Reading by- 
break of day, on the 

14. Arrived at Lieutenant Colonel Weiser's, where 
I received orders to march with the company or de- 
tachment to fort Henry, and from there take a detach- 
ment of 20 men and continue till to fort on North 
Kill. Accordingly, on the 

15. In the morning took the said 20 men from fort 
Henry, of the new levies, and marched straightway 
to the said fort, accompanied with Captain Brisse and 
Captain Smith. As soon as I arrived I gave ensign 
Harry (then commander of the said fort) notice of my 
orders, and sent off two men immediately to the 



464 APPENDIX. 

Colonel's, with a report of the condition I found the 
fort in, and sent him a list of the new levies who 
Were detached from Captain Brisse's fort, with me 
to this fort. 

16. Captains Brisse and Smith set off about 10 
o'clock, with a scout of 10 men, which Captain Brisse 
had ordered from his company on the 15th, and en- 
sign Harry marched out of the fort about 12 o'clock, 
aft#r delivering it to me, with his men, to fort Le- 
banon, according to orders. Provision, I found in the 
fort, as follows, viz : 5 pounds of powder, 198 pounds 
of flour, 10 small bars of lead, 15 pounds of beef and 
pork, and 3 1-2 pounds of candles. 

17. I, with a Corporal and 20 men, according to or- 
ders, from Lieut. Colonel Weiser, went a scouting and 
ranging the woods till to fort Lebanon, where we 
arrived about 2 o'clock in the afternoon. We staid 
there all night, being not able to scout any farther, or 
return home, because of a heavy rain. 

18. Set off from fort Lebanon in the morning, be- 
ing rainy weather, and ranged the woods coming 
back, as before, with the same number of men, and 
arrived at fort on North Kill, about 4 o'clock in the 
afternoon. 

19. Gave orders to Serjeant Peter Smith to scout 
to fort Lebanon, and to bring me report, the next day, 
of his proceedings. Accordingly, he arrived on the 
20th, about 3 o'clock in the afternoon, and made re- 
port that he had done according to his orders, and 
that he had made no discoveries. Received a letter, 
by him, from Captain Morgan, informing me that he 
had no news, &c. 

21. Sent off Corporal Shefer to scout as before. 



APPENDIX. 465 

22. Minister Shumaker came and preacheda ser- 
mon to the company. The scout arrived from fort 
Lebanon. The Corporal reported that nothing strange 
had come to his knowledge. 

A scout of Captain Brisse's arrived about 11 
o'clock, and returned about 4, towards their fort; but 
upon the Indian alarms they immediately returned 
back to fort North Kill, and gave me notice. In the 
midst of the rain I sent, on the first notice, Serjeant 
Smith, with IS men, and ordered them to divide 
themselves in two parties. 

23. Serg. Smith returned, and made report : that he 
arrived at Dietz's house about 10 o'clock in the night, 
where they heard a gun go off at Jacob Smith's, 
about a mile from there. They immediately sat off 
again from said Smith's, towards the place where the 
gun went off, and surrounded the house, according to 
my orders. They searched all the house but found 
110 marks of Indians. From there they marched to 
Falk's house, in the Gap, and surrounded it, but 
found no Indians. From there they went to the 
mountain, and arrived there at 2 o'clock in the morn- 
ing, where Serjeant Smith, according to orders, way- 
laid the road in two parties, and as soon as it was 
day went back and buried the man that was killed, 
to wit: Peter Geisinger, who was shot and killed the 
day before. At burying him, they heard 5 guns go 
off about two miles from said place, whereupon Ser- 
jeant Smidi immediately repaired to the place, and 
divided themselves in two parties, (I had sent oft* 
Corporal Sheffer with eight men, on the 22d, to their 
assistance.) Serjeant Smith also makes report, that 
this morning, at 7 o'clock, a girl of about 15 years, 

m 



466 APPENDIX. 

daughter of Balser Schmidt, was taken prisoner, by- 
two Indians, whose tracks they saw and followed, 
but to no purpose. A party of Captain Brisse's 
company went along from this and remained with 
my men all the time. Fifteen or sixteen of the in- 
habitants came to me and applied for assistance. I 
ordered out several detachments to assist them. 

24. I set off with 20 men from this to Captain 
Brisse's fort, along the mountain, and called at the 
place where the murder was committed. Went up 
as far as th3 Gap of the mountain, but as I found no 
tracks there, I thought the Indians would be on this 
side the mountains, therefore I went up along the 
mountains without opposition, till to Captain Brisse's 
fort; and as it rained very hard all day, and we went 
far about, we arrived there towards th© evening. 

25. Sat off in the morning with the same number 
of men, and scoured the woods back, near the same 
way back again, and arrived, towards evening, in the 
fort, being rainy weather. 

26. Received in the morning a letter for my posi- 
tive orders not to neglect my scouting towards fort 
Lebanon, accordingly I immediately called in my de- 
tachments. This afternoon, a woman, living about 
one and a half miles from here, came to the fort, and 
said she had seen an Indian just now in her field, al- 
most naked, and had a gun, but said she did not stay 
to look long. I immediately sent off Serjeant Smith 
with two parties, consisting of about twenty men. 
They searched the place, and found nothing, but saw 
two barefeet tracks. They divided into small parties, 
and scoured the woods till evening and then returned 
to the fort; and as I had to-day but men sufficient to 



APPENDIX. 467 

guard the fort, I sent out no scout. This evening, 
intelligence came to me from the Colonel's, informing 
me that he had notice from Captain Orndt, of fifteen 
Indians going to fall on the settlement, or hereabouts. 
He ordered me therefore, immediately to send notice 
thereof to Captain Brisse's fort, in order that it might 
be from there conveyed to fort Swatara, accordingly 
I did so. 

27. Gave orders to Sergeant Smith to go scouting 
the woods between this and fort Lebanon, and if 
Captain Morgan thought that it was serviceable, to 
range some way up Schuylkill, as that gap is their 
common rendezvous. 

28. A scout of Captain Brisse arrived in the fore- 
noon, and set off again this afternoon. 

29. In the evening there came two men to the 
fort, and reported that the Indians had invaded about 
six miles from there, about nine o'clock this morning. 
I was somewhat concerned that I had no sooner in- 
telligence of it, however,! immediately sent off twelve 
men under two corporals. 

30. About noon the two corporals returned and 
made the following report : That yesterday they could 
not reach the place, as they all were tired, but staid 
at a house till nigh break of day, and then set off 
again. They did not immediately go to the place 
where the man &c. were killed, but went somewhat 
farther down towards the Schuylkill, thinking that 
the Indians had invaded lower down, but as it was 
not so, they took another route towards Schuylkill, 
thinking that perhaps the Indians had invaded lower 
down, but as it was not so, they took another route 
towards the place where the murder was committed. 



468 APPENDIX. 

and as tbey came there, they found the man's wife 
(Frederick Myer's) who had been at a plough, and 
shot through both her breasts, and was scalped. After 
that they went to look for the man, whom they found 
dead and scalped, some way in the woods. They 
took a ladder and carried him to his wife, where the 
neighbors came and helped to bury them ; after which 
they went towards the mountain, and scouted along 
the same, and arrived here about 4 o'clock in the 
afternoon. 

It is reported by the farmer who saw the deceased 
a short while before, that he was mowing in his 
meadow, and that his children were about him, which 
makes them believe that the man after he heard the 
shot (which killed his wife) he vx^ent to run off with 
only his youngest child in his arms, as the man was 
shot through the body, and the child is one year and 
a half of age and is scalped, but yet alive, and is put 
to a Doctor's. The other three who were with their 
father, are taken prisoners ; one of them is a boy 
about ten years old, the other a girl of eight years^, 
and the other a boy of six years. There was a baby 
whom they found in a ditch, that the water was just 
to its mouth. It was laying on its back, crying — it 
was taken up, and is like to do well. 

A boy of one Reichard, of eight years, was taken 
prisoner at the same time. This was all done within 
half an hour, as some neighbors had been there in 
that space of time. 

July 1. Sergeant Peter Smith returned with the 
scout, and reported that when he came to fort Leba- 
non, Captain Morgan sent a detachment under En- 
sign Horry to the Gap of Schuylkill ; and that on the 



APPENDIX. 469 

28th last past, they ascended the mountain, and when 
they came on the other side, they found an encamp- 
ing place of the Indians, which after Ensign Horry 
had surrounded with his party, he sent off Sergeant 
Smith with another party, to lay in ambush on the 
Indian path all night, but as nothing was to be heard 
of the Indians, they met again the next day — the 
Indians as he supposes having left that place the day 
before. However, they found two match coats, one 
spear, one scalping knife, some vermilion, and eight 
hundred black wampum ; also great variety of salves. 
The 29th they yet lay in ambush in several parties, 
but all to no purpose. The Indians having, without 
doubt, discovered them, in case there was any there- 
abouts. The 30th they sat off from the hills, and 
arrived within a few miles of this fort : and the 1st 
July they arrived accordingly in the fort. 

2. Being rainy weather I sent no scout, but put 
the men to work to repair the stockades. 

3. Early in the morning my men were all gath- 
ered,'and I ordered a Corporal to scout with a party 
to fort Lebanon, and return part of the way and en- 
camp in the woods upon a rising ground, that he 
might the easier discover a fire. 

4. In the morning, a scout of Captain Brisse's ar- 
rived; and returned again in the afternoon. The 
scout from fort Lebanon returned, and the Corporal 
made report that he had ranged as directed, but had 
made no discoveries. 

5. Being a very rainy day, could send no scout. 

6. Sent Sergeant Smith on a scout, to range on 
that side the mountain toward Schuylkill. 

7. A scout of Captain Brisse's arrived, and set off 



470 AtPENDIX. 

again directly. In the afternoon my scout returned^ 
but had no news. It raining hard, they lay in a house 
about twelve miles from here. 

8. Being appointed by his Honor, the Governor, 
a day of Fast, I sent no scout, but had a sermon read 
in the fort, where numbers of the neighbors had as- 
sembled. A scout of Captain Brisse^s arrived, and 
returned directly. 

9. Sent off Corporal Shefer with a scout to fort 
Lebanon, who returned on the 

10. But brought no intelligence. I received or- 
ders to repair to Reading, where I arrived this 
afternoon. 

11. Returned again into the fort, where Sergeant 
Smith informed me a scout of Captain Brisse's had 
arrived at the fort, and returned. That he had ranged 
the Gap about two miles from this, and had been over 
the mountains, but had discovered nothing. 

12. A scout of Captain Brisse's arrived and re- 
turned immediately. Sent a Corporal and a scout to 
range to fort Lebanon. 

13. My scout from fort Lebanon returned. The 
Corporal reported he had ranged as ordered, but had 
no discoveries. 

14. Captain Brisse arrived this morning with a 
party of Captain Smith's and his own, to the number 
of about twenty-eight. I gave him fifteen of my 
men, in order to escort the treaty at Easton. 

15. It being a rainy day I sent no scout. 

16. Continuing rainy weather, I sent no scout. In 
the evening repaired some stockades, the rain having 
held up. 

1 7. The water being high, and the bushes wet, I 



APPENDIX. 471 

sent no scout to-day. A scout of Captain Brisse's 
arrived, tliere being no water between his and this 
fort. 

18. Sent a scout along the mountains. They ar- 
rived in the evening, and had no inteUigence. 

19. A scout of Captain Brisse's arrived and re- 
turned directly. Sent Sergeant Smith with a scout to 
fort Lebanon. 

20. Sergeant Smith returned and reported that he 
}iad been at fort Lebanon, and returned some part of 
the way and laid in the woods, but had made no fire. 
They made no discovery. A scout of Captain Bris- 
se's arrived and returned instantly. 

21. Having laid out part of my men to protect 
the farmers, and the rest being fatigued with yester- 
day's scout, I could send none to-day. 

22. Sent a scout along the mountains, who re- 
turned without discovering any thing. 

23. I went scouting with a party over the moun- 
tains, and as it was very warm, I ordered the men 
about noon to rest themselves a couple of hours when 
we were over the mountains. I then ordered them to 
march, and as we came to Schuylkill, I saw it was too 
high for the men to wade through ; I then got horses, 

and towards evening we got over Schuylkill. We ^^ 

arrived at fort Lebanon towards night, and was 
obliged to stay there that night. 

24. Returned, and as soon as we came over on 
this side of the mountains, (it being yet early in the 
day,) I took quite another route through the woods, 
but made no discovery ; so we arrived at the fort in the 
evening. I had not beenthere one-half an hour, before 
three farmers came and informed me that this morning 



472 APPENDIX. 

the Indians had taken a hoy of ahout fourteen years 
prisoner, but had done no other damage. I immedi- 
ately sent off a party, but as it happened, the boy being 
taken prisoner in the morning, night came on before 
my men could get there. 

25. In the morning I heard the boy had escaped, 
and that he made report that there were four white 
men and four Indians with him, and that at night he 
escaped ; they had tied him, and he was obhged to 
lay between them, but as they all got drunk, and fast 
asleep, he untied himself and ran off. He further 
says that when he was taken prisoner he made a 
noise, and that they struck him, and told him to be 
silent. I imagine they saw me with my men go over 
the day before yesterday. The Indians were this 
night about the fort, but as it was very dark, I did 
not sally out. 

26. This morning sent out Sergeant Smith with 
five men to search about the fort for tracks, but he 
only found one, which was in' a muddy place. But 
it being nothing but stones, he could not follow the 
tracks. It rained all day very hard, therefore I 
could send no scout. 

27. Sent a scout down on this side of the moun- 
tain. The scout returned in the evening, having no 
intelhgence. 

28. A scout of Captain Brisse's arrived, and re- 
turned about noon ; nothing extraordinary happened. 

29. Sent Sergeant Smith with a scout along the 
mountains. He returned, having nothing particular. 

30. A scout of Lieutenant Philip Weiser, from 
Captain Brisse arrived. Having laid out several de- 



APPENDIX. 473 

tachments to assist the farmers, I could send no scout 
to-day. 

31. Lieutenant Weiser returned from his scout ; I 
called in the detachments this day, and sent out a 
scout, which returned this evening. 

August 1. The men being tired, and their feet in 
blisters, I let them rest this day. 

2. Sent a scout along the mountains with orders 
to range to Schuylkill. 

3. The Corporal returned from scout and reported 
he had ranged as ordered. 

4. A scout of Captain Brisse's arrived and returned 
the same day. The inhabitants desiring assistance to 
bring in their harvest, I gave them some men, and 
went altho' a scouting, but as I left few men in the 
fort, I returned this evening. 

5. A scout of Captain Brisse's arrived and went 
off after they had rested awhile. Sent Sergeant Smith 
with a scout, and ordered him to range the woods on 
this side of the mountains. He returned and had 
nothing particular. 

6. Sent off a scout ; they went along the foot of 
the mountain, and returned in the evening without 
any intelligence. 

7. Being Sunday, I took a party and went to 
church with a party, as the church lies near the 
mountain, and the minister could not come without a 
guard. 

S. The centry fired at an Indian. The Indian 
stood behind a brwsh about three hundred yards off, 
and was viewing the fort. I went off with eighteen 
men and parted them in six parties and went after the 



474 APPENDIX. 

Indians, but could not come up with them ; went to 
clearing about the fort, it being thick of bushes. 

9. Continued clearing and burning brush, so that 
on the south side of the fort it is cleared a full musket 
shot. A party of Captain Brisse's arrived. 

10. Sent off a scouting party, who returned and 
brought no intelligence. This night the centry, about 
an hour after dark, perceived that a fire which had 
been kindled to burn brush, but was, before night, 
gone out, began to burn afresh, upon which he called 
the Sergeant of the Guard, who perceiving the same 
ordered the guard to fire, on which the Indians ran 
oif. The dogs pursued them, and kept barking after 
them about half a mile. I had the men all under 
arms, but every thing being now quiet, dismissed 
them ordering them to be in continual readiness with 
their accoutrements on. In about an hour the In- 
dian returned, and took a firebrand out oft' the fire, 
and ran off". They were immediately fired on, but 
in vain. 

11. Ensign Biddle arrived at the fort with the 
detachment of our company, that were in Easton. 

12. A scout of Captain Brisse's arrived and re- 
turned directly. 

13. This day I left the fort in order to go to the 
Colonel's agreeable to his orders. I left Ensign Biddle 
in the fort. 

Sent a Corporal to range towards Schuylkill, who 
returned the same evening, and the Corporal reported 
he had ranged as directed, and had made no dis- 
coveries. A scout of Captain Brisse's arrived, and 
returned the same evening. 



APPENDIX. 475 

14. Being Sunday, Minister Shumaker* came 
here, and the soldiers being fatigued with continual 
scouting, there was no scout to-day. 

15. Ensign Biddle sent a Corporal with a scout 
to range eastward towards Schuylkill, and return un- 
der the mountains. The scout returned towards 
evening, and the Corporal made report, he had ranged 
as directed, and had no intelligence. 

16. Sent a Sergeant with fifteen men, to range 
eastward along the mountain. A scout of Captain 
Brisse's arrived and returned immediately. In the 
afternoon the scout returned. The Sergeant made 
report he had ranged as directed, but had no news. 

17. Early this morning Ensign Biddle sent Ser- 
geant Smith with ten men, to escort Lieutenant 
Colonel Weiser, who was expected here this day. 

This day Colonel Weiser arrived, accompanied with 
Captain Brisse and myself, together with the said 
escort. The Colonel returned the same day home- 
wards, after we had chosen a place where to build 
a new fort. Ensign Biddle went along with 
Captain Brisse. 

IS. Sent off a scout to fort Lebanon, and ordered 
them to range the woods between here and that fort 
till night. 

19. The scout returned about 4 o'clock, and in- 
formed that he had done according to his orders. 
Captain Morgan came with the scout, and returned 
the same evening. 

20. Sent a scout of fifteen men to range the 
woods towards Schuylkill, into Windsor township,, 

*Rei:. Shumaker was pastor of the Lutheran Congregation at 
Reading, from 1754 to '57. — Compiler. 



476 APPENDIX. 

and with orders to call in some detachments lying in 
the said township, according to Lieutenant Colonel's 
orders. 

21. The scout returned with the detachment. 
The Corporal reported he had done according to his 
orders, but had no news. The same day Captain 
Brisse and Ensign Biddle arrived from fort Henry; 
Captain Brisse returned the same evening. 

22. Received an express from Lieutenant Colonel 
Weiser, with orders to come to his house. In pursu- 
ance of which I set off immediately, leaving Ensign 
Biddle in the fort. 

23. A scout of Captain Brisse's arrived. The 
Gentries heard the Indians distinctly whistle this night 
in the woods. 

24. Ensign Biddle, according to orders, with a 
scout of twenty men, went over the mountains to 
Captain Morgan's fort. 

25. Lieutenant Philip Weiser came here from fort 
Henry with a scout. 

26. Ensign Biddle returned from his scout, having 
been at Captain Morgan's fort, and from thence 
scouted over the mountains, into Allemangle, and 
from thence along the foot of the mountain till here. 
This day lalss arrived in the fort from Lieutenant 
Colonel Weiser's. 

27. Having orders from Lieutenant Colonel Wei- 
ser to look out for a proper place to build a new fort, 
this being so bad, I began to lay out one on a spot 
which had been before pitched upon, by the Colonel 
and Captain Brisse, but night coming we could not 
finish. 

28. Laid out the remaining part of the fort. 



APPENDIX. 477 

29. Had some brush cut round the new intended 
fort, till evening. 

30. Sent off a scout towards Schuylkill. They 
returned in the evening, but made no discovery ; re- 
turned with the remaining party of the men. I con- 
tinued clearing and burning of brush. 

31. Sent off Sergeant Smith, with a scouting 
party, towards Schuylkill. He returned but made 
no discovery. 



TEBYUSCUNG. 

Tadeuskund, or Tcedyuscung, frequently noticed 
in the preceeding part of this work, was so conspicu- 
ous a character in the early history of these counties, 
that it is deemed proper to give the following sketch 
of this remarkable son of the forest, by Mr. Hecke- 
welder, a place here: 

Tadeuskund, or Teeclyuscung, was the last Dela- 
ware chief in these parts, east of the Allegheny 
mountains. His name makes a conspicuous figure in 
the history of Pennsylvania, previous to the revolu- 
tion, and particularly towards the commencement of 
the war of 1756. Before he was raised to the station 
of a chief, he had signalized himself as an able coun- 
sellor in his nation. In the year 1749, he joined the 
Christian Indian congregation, and the following year, 
at his earnest desire, was christened by the name of 
of Gideon. He had been known before under that 
of Honest John. It was not until the year 1754, 



478 APPENBIX. 

that his nation called upon him to assume a military 
command. The French were then stirring up the 
Indians, particularly the Delawares, to aid them in 
fighting ihe English, telling them that if they suffered 
them to go on as they before had done, they would 
very soon not have a foot of land to live on. The 
Susquehanna and Fork Indians, (Delawares) were 
then in want of a leading character to advise and 
govern them, their great, good, beloved and peacea- 
ble chief Tademe, (commonly called Tattemi) having 
some time before been murdered in the Forks settle- 
ment by a foolish young white man. They, there- 
fore, called upon Tadeuskund to take upon himself 
the station of a chief, which, having accepted, he re- 
paired to Wyoming, whither many of the Forks In- 
dians followed him. 

Whatever might have been Tadeuskund's disposi- 
tion towards the English at that time, it is certain that 
it was a difficult task for him, and would have been 
such for any other chief, to govern an exasperated 
people, entirely devoted to the opposite interest. 
This may account for his not having always succeed- 
ed in gratifing our government to the extent of their 
wishes. Yet he did much towards lessening the cru- 
ehies of the enemy, by keeping up an intercourse 
with the governor of Pennsylvania, and occasionally 
drawing many from the theatre of war and murder, 
to meet the colonial authorities at Easton or Philadel- 
phia, for the negotiation of treaties, by which means 
fewer cruelties were committed than would other- 
wise have been. 

His frequent visits to the governor, and to the peo- 
ple called Quakers (to whom he was much attached, 



APPENDTX. 479 

beeause they were known to be friendly to the In- 
dians) excited much jealousy among some of his nation, 
especially the Monseys, who believed that he was 
carrying on some underhand work at Philadelphia, 
detrimental to the nation at large ; on which account, 
and as they wished the continuation of the war, they 
became his enemies. 

From the precarious situation Tadeuskund was 
placed in, it was easy to foresee that he would come 
to an untimely end. Perhaps no Indian chief before 
him ever found himself so delicately situated ; mis- 
trusted and blamed by our government and the En- 
glish people generally, beeause he did not use his 
whole endeavours to keep his nation at peace, or 
compel them to lay down the hatchet ; and accused 
by his own people of having taken a bribe from the 
English, or entered into some secret agreement Avith 
them that would be of benefit to himself alone, as he 
would not suffer them to inflict just punishment 
on that nation, for the wrongs they had done them, 
but was constantly calling upon them to make 
peace. The Five Nations, on the other hand, (the 
enemies of the Delawares, and in alliance with Eng- 
land,) blamed him for doing too much for the cause 
which they themselve supported, for making himself 
too busy, and assuming an authority, which did no-t 
belong to him, the leader of a band of luomen, but to 
them, the Five Nations alone. 

To do justice to this injured chief, the true secret of 
his apparently contradictory conduct must be here 
disclosed. It is said by those Indians who knew him 
best, and who at that time had the welfare of their 
own nation much at heart, that his great and sole ob- 



480 APPENDIX. 

feet was to recover for the Lenni Lenape that dignity 
which the Iroquois had treacherously wrested from 
them ; thence flowed the bitterness of the latter against 
him, though he seemed to be promoting the same in- 
terest which they themselves supported. He had 
long hoped that by shewing friendship and attach- 
ment to the English, he would be able to convince 
them of the justice of his nation's cause, who were 
yet powerful enough to make their alliance an object 
to the British government, but here he was greatly 
mistaken. No one would examine into the grounds 
of the controversy between the Delawares and the 
Five Nations ; the latter, on the contrary, were sup- 
ported in their unjust pretentions as theretofore, and 
even called upon to aid in compelling the Lenape to 
make peace. This unjust, and at the same time im- 
politic conduct, of which I have before taken suffi- 
cient notice, irritated to the utmost, the spirited nation 
of the Delawares, they felt themselves insulted and de- 
graded, and were less disposed than ever from com- 
plying with the wishes of a government which sport- 
ed in this manner, with their national feelings, and 
called in question even their right to exist as an inde- 
pendent people. 

Surrounded as he was, with enemies, Tadeuskund 
could not escape the fate that had long been intended 
for him. In the spring of 1763, when the European 
nations had made peace, but the Indians were still at 
war, he was burnt up, together with his house, as he 
was lying in his bed asleep. It was supposed and 
believed by many who were present, that this dread- 
ful event was not accidental, but had been maturely 
resolved on by his enemies, whoever they were, and 



APPENDIX. 481 

that the liquor which was brought to Wyoming at the 
time, was intended by them for the purpose of en- 
ticing him to drink, that they might the more easily 
effect their purpose. A number of Indians were wit- 
nesses to the fact that the house was set on fire from 
the outside.' Suspicion fell principally upon the 
Mingoes, who were known to be jealous of him, and 
fearful of his resentment, if he should succeed in in- 
sinuating himself into the favor of the English, and 
making good terms with them for his nation. It is 
said that those Indians were concerned in bringing the 
fatal liquor which is believed to have been instrumen- 
tal to the execution of the design. 

While Tadeuskund was at the head of his nation, 
he was frequently distinguished by the title of " King 
of the Delawares." While passing and repassing to 
and from the enemy with messages, many people 
called him the " War Trumpet.^' In his person he 
was a portly well-looking man, endowed with good 
natural sense, quick of comprehension, and very ready 
in answering the questions put to him. He was 
rather ambitious, thought much of his rank and abili- 
ties, liked to be considered as the king of his country, 
and was fond of having a retinue with him when he 
went to Philadelphia on business with the govern- 
ment. His greatest weakness was a fondness for 
strong drinks, the temptation of which he could not 
easily resist, and would sometimes drink to excess. 
This unfortunate propensity is supposed to have been 
the cause of his cruel and untimely death. 

E2 



482 APPENDIX. 



RELIGIOUS NOTICE. 

There is but a small space left us to notice the re- 
ligious history of these counties. If difference of 
opinion on this interesting subject, is a sure index to a 
deep toned piety and christian benefaction — charity 
in the true sense of the gospel, then may the people 
of these counties lay no small claim to a share of re- 
ligion ; and none who has spent any time among so 
kind and hospitable a people, would doubt such a 
claim. There are not less than eight or ten distinct 
denominations to be found in the various parts of 
these counties. Perhaps in no part of the state of 
Pennsylvania, do we meet with larger churches than 
in this region. And if we are allowed to judge from 
the exterior of these stately temples, as to the devo- 
tion and charity of those who worship in them, we 
must believe, if there is correspondence here, that the 
cause of Christ is cherished, and the spirit of benevo- 
lence abroad among the several denominations. It is 
to be hoped that a zeal for so good a cause will soon 
become commensurate with its importance and claim 
upon all classes of men. 

It is more than probable that the Rev. Eleazer 
Wales, a Presbyterian clergyman, was the first who 
preached within the limits of Northampton county. 
He resigned his pastoral charge of the Allentown 
congregation in 1734. Rev. Mr. Webster of Mauch 
Chunk, says : " By the records of the Philadelphia 
Presbytery, it appears that the Rev. E. Wales resigned 
the pastoral charge of Allentown, in 1734.'* The con- 



APPENDIX, 483 

gregation probably remained vacant till the visit of 
Brainerd, 1 744, who often preached at the settlement 
where the church now stands. 

Rev. David Brainerd was born in April, 1718, at 
Haddam, Connecticut. In 1739, he became a mem- 
ber of Yale College, where he was distinguished for 
application, and general correctness of conduct. In 
the spring of 1742, he began the study of divinity; 
and at the end of July, he was licensed to preach, for 
which a thorough examination had shown him quali- 
fied. He had for some time entertained a strong de- 
sire of preaching the gospel among the heathen, which 
was gratified by an appointment as missionary to the 
Indians. At Kaunemeck, an Indian Village of Mas- 
sachusetts, he commenced his labors in his twenty- 
fifth year of his age. He remained there about twelve 
months, at first residing in a wigwam among the In- 
dians, but afterwards in a cabin, which he constructed 
for himself, that he might be alone, when not engaged 
in his duties of preaching and instruction. In 1744, 
he was ordained by the Presbytery of Newark, N. J., 
and took up his habitation near the forks of the Dela- 
ware, Bucks, now Northampton, county, where he 
resided for a year, during the course of which he 
made two visits to the Indians on the Susquehanna. 
His exertions were not successfully crowned, until he 
went to the Indians at Crosweeksung, near Freehold, 
in New Jersey. Before the end of the year, a com- 
plete reformation took place in the lives of the sav- 
ages, seventy-eight of whom he baptized within that 
time. He died October 9, 1747. 

Brainerd left a journal of his labors, but has noted 
few facts, and recorded scarce any names of persons, 



484 APPENDIX. 

that would aid in ellucidating any portion of history. 

In his visit to the forks of the Delaware, he says : 
" On Saturday, May 12, 1744, he came to a settlement 
of Irish and Dutch (German) people, and proceeding 
about twelve miles further, arrived at Takhauwotung, 
an Indian settlement within the forks of the Dela- 
ware. 

" Lord's day, May 1 3. Rose early ; felt very poorly 
after my long journey, and after being wet and fa- 
tigued. Was very melancholy ; have scarcely ever 
seen such a gloomy morning in my life ; there ap- 
peared to be no Sabbath ; the children were at play ; 
I, a stranger in the wilderness, and know not where 
to go ; and all circumstances seemed to conspire to 
render my affairs dark and discouraging. Was dis- 
appointed respecting an interpreter, and heard that 
the Indians were much scattered. 0, 1 mourned after 
the presence of God, and seemed like a creature ban- 
ished from his sight ! yet he was pleased to support 
my sinking soul amidst all my sorrows ; so that I 
never entertained any thought of quitting my business 
among the poor Indians ; but was comforted to think 
that death would ere long set me free from these dis- 
tresses. Rode about three or four miles to the Irish 
people, where I found some that appeared sober and 
concerned about religion. My heart then began to 
be a little encouraged ; went and preached, first to 
the Irish and then to the Indians, and in the evening 
was a little comforted," &c. 

Four years before Brainerd commenced his mis- 
sionary labors amongst the Indians, in the Forks of 
the Delaware, Bishop David Nitschman, with a com- 
pany of Moravians, arrived from Europe and settled 



APPENDIX. 485 

at Bethlehem. In 1741, Count ZmzendorfF, that re- 
markable man, came to Pennsylvania as an ordinary 
of the United Brethren, with a view of not seeing 
the Moravian establishments in general, but especially 
the fruits of their labors among the heathen. Since' 
the days of ZinzendorfF, the Moravians have contin- 
ued to prosper in this portion of Pennsylvania, They 
have been laboring indefatigably in the cause of reli- 
gion, and of their Divine Master. They have several 
flourishing congregations. 

The Lutheran and German Reformed ministers, 
the Reverends Muhlenberg and Schlatter, preached 
within these limits between 1744 and 1754, and at a 
later period. Congregations of these denominations, 
as well as Presbyterians and others, are found in va- 
rious parts of these counties. 

The present religious denominations in these coun- 
ties are, besides those already mentioned, Episcopals, 
Methodists, Baptists, United Brethren, Dunkards, 
Evangelical Association, Quakers, Catholics, Church 
of God, Jews, Schwenkfelders, Universalists. These 
all have churches, as already noticed in the body of this 
work. Notwithstanding this array of names of reli- 
gious parties, there is much missionary ground that 
might be profitably occupied by ministers who can 
speak English and German. 



INDEX. 



(jj'N stands for Northampton county, L for Lehigh, M for 
Monroe, C for Carbon, and S for Schuylkill— t for township. 

A. 

Allen township, N 61 

Aquanshicola, or Aquanshehals, 112, 227 

Allentown, borough, 140 

Allen, fort, in C 219 

Adoption of prisoners by the Indians, 236 

Abduction of Gilbert's family, 233 

Acretown, 293 

Anders and family killed, 232 

Addenda, 461 

B. 

Bath, in N 63 

Belleville, in N ' 66 

Berlinville, in N 66 

Bushkill township, N 71 

Bethlehem township, 78 

Bethlehem, town, 79 

Brainerd Rev., 86 

Biery's Port, 126 

Breineigsville, in L 136 

Branchville, 159 

Bartonsville, 175 

Beaver Meadow, 213 

Banks township, 214 

Burlington, in C 229 



4SS INDEX. 

Burd, James visited fort Allen^ 225 

Bethel, Mount Upper, 59 

Berks co., erection of, 241 

Branch t^ 253 

Barry t, 255 
Bellemont collieries, 350, 361 

Berry's colliery, 366 

Belfast colliery, 366 

Bolton & Go's collieries, 369 

Brunswick t, West, 268 

Burd's Journal, 447 

Burn's wife and child abducted, "251 
Busse Captain, 463, '4 

C. 

Court records, extracts from, N 22 

Council held at Easton, 31 

Centreville, in N 59 

Centreville, or Nelighsvilte;, 64 

Cherryville, in N 67 

Christian Brunn, 78 

Clanseville, in L. 134 

Craig's Meadow, 159 

Cooibaugh township^ 172 

Chestnuthill township, 177 

Carbon county erected, 181 

Clifton, in C 213 

Coaqueunac, 296 

Coal Castle, 296 

Coal &c., history of 298 
Coal region and mining operations, 331, 345 

Coal origin and formation, 331 

Coal, quantity transported, 319 

Common school, 403 

D. 

Delaware Water Gap, 26 

Dill's ferry, in N 60 



INDEX. 489 

Devil's pulpit, 114 

Dillinger's, 127 

Dutotsburg, 158 

Davis' colliery, 357 

Den Sergeant killed, 430 
Depue Samuel, 417, 418 

E. 

Easton, early history of, 31 

Easton, as at present, 52 

Epitaphs at Bethlehem, 82 

Emaus, in L 140 

East Penn township, 228 

Epitaphs at Mahoning, 232 

East Brunswick township, 249 

Evan's colliery, 376 

Education, 380 

Easton, free school at, 1755, 394 

Enslee Captain, 420 

Everitt's station 454 

F. 

Freshet at Easton in 1840, 53 

" " 1841, 54 

Flatfield, in N 51 

Forks township, N 73 

Freemansburg, in N 79 

Frieden Huetten, 86 
Franklin Benjamin's letters, 92, 221 
Fries' trial, 118,125 

Fogelsville, in L 135 

Freystown, or Freysburg, 138 

Flood at Allentown, 144 
Fort Hamilton, 152, 417 

Flood at Stroudsburg, 155 

Fennersville, 180 

Fort Allen, or Weisport, 217 

Flood of '86 at Fort Allen, 218 



490 INDEX. 

French and Indian Wars, 250 

Friedensburg, 266 

Freshets in 1831-41, 290 

Freeman's colUeries, 352 

Fitzimmon's coUiery, 364 

Free school at Easton, 1755, 394 

Fort Norris, 415 

Fort North Kill, 410 

Fort Hyndshaw, 418 

Fabricius killed and scalped, 231 

Fort Henry, 463 

Fort Lebanon, 464 

Fragment of a journal. 463 

G. 

Germans, history of, 7 

Glenden Iron works, 71 

Gnadenthal, in N 78 

Germansville, in L 128 

Great Swamp, 215 

Gnaden Huetten, 218 

Gap the, in C 227 

Gilbert's family abducted, 233 

Great dam, or artificial lake, 257 

Gartermeyer murdered, 232 

Geiger Lieutenant, 453 

H. 

Hauertown, in N 64 

Hellerstown, N . 68 

Hanover township, N 68 

Hecktown, in N 74 
Horsefield Timothy, 88, 90, 92 

Hatcheltooth Falls, 112 

Hanover township, L 126 

Heidelburg township, 127 

Hamilton township, 179 

Hazelton, 142 



INDEX. 491 

Hoeth's creek, in C 215 

Home, 259 

History of coal, 298 

Henderson's colliery, 264 

Heebner's colliery, 267 

Hewes* colliery, 368 

Hoeth and family murdered, 216 

Hartman murder, 267 

Harriger abducted, 233 

I. 

Irish, history of 16 

Irishtown, 293 
Instruction, course of, at Lafayette College, 398 

J- 

Johnsonville, in N 66 

Jacobsburg, in N 72 

Jacksonville, in L 132 

Junction Collieries, 268 

Journal of Van Etten, 421 

Journal of Young, 409 

Journal of Burd, 447 

Journal, fragment of 463 

K. 

Kreidersville, in N 6'4 

Kernsville or Petersville, 67 

Klecknersville, in N 67 

Kern's Mills, in L 129 

Kunklesville, 179 

Killersville, 179 
Kinsley's collieries, 351, 356 

Kurtz Rev. receives a letter., 267 



Little Gap, of N 25 



492 INDEX, 



Lower Mount Bethel t, N 


60 


Lehigh t, N 


66 


Lehighville or BerHnville 


66 


Lehigh RoUing mill, 


70 


Lower Nazareth township, 


74 


Letters, important ones, 


75—109 


Lehigh county organized, 


110 


Leckhaw, or Lehigh river. 


111 


Lehigh Water Gap, 


113 


Linn township, L 


131 


Linnville, in L 


132 


Low Hill township. 


133 


Lower Macunjy township. 


135 


Lehigh Port, 


143 


Lower Smithfield t. 


157 


Lehigh coal mine company formed, 


193 


Lausanne, in C 


212 


Lausanne township, C 


213 


Lawrytown, in C 


213 


Lehigh river improved. 


196 


Lower Towamensing township, 


226 


Lehighton, in C 


229 


Llewellyn, 


254 


Louisburg, 


263 


Landisville 


270 


Lawtontown, 


293 


Lick Run collieries. 


355 


Lower Mahantango t, 


255 


Lafayette College, 


397 


Lesley killed by Indians, 


232 


M. 




Moore township, N 


67 


Millerstown or Millerville, 


135 


Mount Pleasant, in L 


137 


Mammoth Rock, 


139 


Monroe county organized, 


145 


Meenesinks, 


159 


Middle Smithfield t. 


163 



INDEX. 493 

Mauch Chunk township, 187 

Mauch Chunk, 1S8 
Mauch Chunk mountam, 191, 199 

Mahoning township, C 228 

Moravian Miss. Estab. destroyed, 229 

Mount Bethel, Upper, 59 

Macunjy, Upper, 134 

Miltbrd, Upper, 136 

Manheim township, 251 

Minersville, 253 

Mahantango t. Lower, 255 

M'Keansburg, 270 

Mackeysville, 297 

Mining operations in L co., 331 

Music Hail collieries, 354 

Mammoth colliery, 379 

Mahantango t.. Upper, 265 

Members of education scheme, 3S4 

Mill creek rail road, 370 

Model school at Easton, 403 

Marshall's wife killed, 437 

N. 

Northampton co., erection of, 19 

Northampton, present limits of, 24 
Nelighsville, in N 64 

Newburg, in N 74 
Nazareth, in N 75 

North Whitehall township, L 128 

New Tripoli, in L 132 

Northampton township, L. 140 

Nagleville, 173 

Nesquihoning, in C 212 
Nazareth, Lower township 74 

Norwegian township, 271 

New Castle, 296 

North Kill, Fort at, 410 

Norris's Fort, 415 

Nitschman killed, &c., 231 



H INDEX. 




0. 




Orndt Jacob's letters, 


224, 225 


Oplinger's, or Uplinger's, "■■ K 


"— 227 


Owl creek, in C 


228 


Orwigsbiirg, 


269 


Origin of coal, 

P. 
Property, loss of at Easton, 


331 


53 


Plainfield t, N 


65 


Petersvilles, or Kernsville, 


67 


Price township, 


172 


Pokono township, 


173 


Penn Haven, in C 


213 


Penn Forest township, 


215 


Parrysville, in C 


216 


Peart and others abducted. 


233 


Petitions, 


242 


Port Clinton, 


249 


Porter, t. 


255 


Pine Grove t. 


258 


Pine Grove, 


258 


Pattersonville, 


259 


Pottsville and vicinity, 


272 


Port Wilhelm, 


272 


Port Carbon, 


293 


Pennman's collieries, 


553 


Patrick's collieries, 


354 


Pinkerton's colliery. 


377 


Penn t. West, 


270 


Parsons William, 


395 


Prisser Martin, killed. 


232 


Pemper Christian, murdered. 


225 


Parsons' letter to Rev. Kurtz, 


267 


Q. 




Quinn's cotton factory. 


70 


Quantity of coal transported, 


319 



INDEX. 495 

R. 



Richmond, in N 


60 


Rose, n. e., of Nazareth, 


* 77 


Rittersville, in L 


127 


Ross township, 


178 


Rockport, in C 


213 


Rush t. 


259 


Rhoadstown, 


293 


Richard's coUiery, 


363 


Ronaldson colliery, 


374 


Rainbow colliery. 


375 


Rank Esqr's letter. 


259 


Reichelderfers murdered, 


250 


Slate Port, in N 


98 


Saucon township, N 


95 


South Easton, borough, 


66 


South Easton, foundry. 


70 


Steel manufactory. 


70 


Stockersville, in N 


73 


Shoeneck, in N 


78 


Spangenberg's letters, 


95, 99 


Segersville, in L 


128 


Siegersville, 


129 


Snydersville, 


129 


Slate Dam, in h 


129 


South Whitehall township, 


130 


Scheimersville, 


135 


Salisburg township, 


139 


Stroud township. 


150 


Stroud sburg. 


151 


Smithfield township, M 


157 


Spruce Grove, 


173 


Saxville, 


173 


Snydersville, in M 


179 


Saylorsville, 


180 


Shades of death, 


215 



496 INDEX 

South Lehighton, 229 

Schuylkill county, 039 

Smitlj^field Lower township, 157 

Saucon, Upper, 1 35 

Smithfield, Upper, 163 

Schuylkill county erected, 241 

Schuylkill Haven, 252 

Swataraville, 259 

Schuylkill township, 262 

Schuylkill valley, 263 

St. Clair, 296 

Schneidberg, 272 

Schuylkill coal fields, 343 

Schuylkill Valley District, 348 

Silver creek collieries, 358 

Salem collieries, 371 

Sillyman's colliery, 376 

Schlatters scheme of education, 382 

Subscription towards school house &c., 395 
Seminaries at Nazareth and Bethlehem, 403 

Sensemans killed, 232 

Schwiegert murder, 233 

Swatara fort, 451 

T. 

Topography of townships, N 59 

Trexlerstown, in L 135 

Tobyhanna township, 173 

Tannersville, 176 

Tippey's flood, in C 218 

Towamensing, Lower, 226 

Tuscarora, 260 

Tamaqua, 261 

Tuscarora collieries, 349 

Thompson's collieries, 353 
Trustees of the education scheme of 1751, 382 

Tidd John, killed, 436 

Trump Adam, murdered, 251 

Tedyuscung, sketch of 477 



INDEX. 491' 

U. 

Upper Mount Bethel township, N 59 

Upper Nazareth township, 75 

Upper Macunjy, in L 134 

Upper Milford towsnhip, 136 

Upper Saucon township, 138 

Upper Smithfield township, 163 

Upper Towamensing township, 215 

Union township, 265 

Upper Mahantango township, 265 

Uren's coUieries, 353 

Union coUieries, 359 



Van Etten's journal, 421 

Van Etten, justice of the peace, 428 

W. 

Welsh, history of, 13 

Wind Gap, N g6 

Williamsburg, in N 59 

Weaversburg, in N 64 

Wardsburg, in N 66 

Williams township, N 69 

Williamsport, in N 71 

Whitfield's purchase, in N 75 

Weisenburg township, 137 

Weissport, in C 216 

Weiss Jacob, Colonel, 217 

Wayne township, 260 

West Brunswick township, 268 

West Penn township, 270 

William's colliery, 357 
Weatherold CaptaiUj 414, 4! 9 



F2 



h 



4^8 INDEX. 

Y. 

Young James, commissary in 175S, 22S 

Young's addition, 293 

Young's commissary journal, 409 

Z. 

Zimmermanstown, . 266 

Zeisloff George, killed, 251 



SUBSCEIBEES^ NAMES. 



SCHUYLKILL COUNTY. 



RcsideHce — Pottsvillc. 

Rev David Hassinger 
Rev Hugh Lane 
Charles Looser 
Isaac Beck 
Daul Larer 
Michael Mortimer 
Nicholas Fox 
Edwd Owen Parry Esq 
F W Hughes Esq 
Geo L Gensler 
Andrew B White 
A Lippe M D 
James L Yoder 
Jno H Clement 
Jacob Reed Esq 
Daniel Hill 
Edward T Taylor 
Thos D Beatty 
F Hewson 
Jno Franklin Esq 
E Chichester M D 
Geo W Snyder 
Horace Smith Esq 
Howell Fisher 
Dr G G Palmer 
Charles M Lewis 



Place of Nativity. 

Berks co* 
Ireland 

Montgomery co 
Berks county 
Philadelphia county 
Schuylkill co 
Berks co 

Portsmouth N H 
Montgomery co 
Germany 
Delaware 
Prussia 
Berks co 
Gloucester N J 
Berks co 

Do 
Gloucester N J 
New York City 
Philadelphia 
Luzerne co 
Fairfield co Conn 
Philadelphia 
Berks co 

Gloucester co N J 
Delaware co 
Chester co 



*Al\ coonties wb«r« tbe nain« of the 8tat« is omitted, are of Penn'a. 



500 



SUBSCRIBERS NAMES. 



Residence — Potts villc. 

John Hodgkiss 

F M Wynkoop Editor 

Wm Newell jr 

Richd J Owen 

Cecil Berryman M D 

Wm Fox 

Jacob Epting 

John S C Martin 

James S Braley 

G W Farquhar Esq 

James H Campbell Esq 

George H Brandter M D 

William Morgan 

Samuel Thompson 

Samuel Russell 

Hiram Rigg 

John McCormick 

John Ruch 

Nathan Evans 

Franklin P Myers 

Lafayette J Bannan 

Frederick C Epting 

Jos Morgan 

Hiram Parker 

Geo W Slater 

Michael Cochran P M 

Jos M Freeh 

John G Brown 

E O Jackson Editor 

G L Vliet 

J P Bertram Editor 

Oliver Dobson 

Amos Enterline 

Rev Wm G Mennig 

Geo Heisler Esq 

Daniel Krebs 

B W Gumming Esq 

R M Palmer Esq 

J Smith McMicken Esq 

SSillyman 

Wm Wolff 



Place of Nativity, 

England 

Bucks CO 

Philadelphia 

Wales 

England 

Maiden Creek Berks cd 

Lexington Ky 

Lancaster co 

Northumberland co 



Williamsport Lycomingc co 
Germany 
Wales 
Juniata co 
Northumberland co 
Jjancaster co 
Berks co 

Sunbury, Northumberland ec 
Lancaster co 
Columbia co 
Berks co 
Philadelphia 
Sussex CO N J 
Worcester co Mas? 
Union co 
Ireland 
Daupiiin CO 
Germany 
Columbia eo 
Northampton co 
Berks co 
Schuylkill co 
Dauphin co 
Lebanon co 
Berks co 
Schuylkill co 
Philadelphia 
Mt Holly N J 
Williamsport Lycoming cr 
Hamburg Berks co 
Do do 



SUBSCRIBERS" NAMES. 



501 



Residence — Pottsville. 

iSamuel Huntzinger 
J H Ziegenfus 
Joseph Bowen 
John J Jones 
Tienjamin Cook 
Rev E B Evans 
W L Heisler 
Wm Major 
Thomas Fender 
8amuel Hartz 
Dan Stall 
Geo H Potts 
Alfred Lawtou 
Patrick Daly 
Charles Berdsley 
Thonias Foster 
Jno Clavton 
W H Marshall 
A Meisse 
Vim C Leib 
Johann K Voelleaguel 
¥ D Fernsler 
Max Dorflinger 
Frank Pott 
James G Cochran 
D E Nice Esq 
E W McGinnes 
Thos S Ridgway jr 
Joseph George 
John Treagea 
George Mortimer 
M Strouse 
Chas W Clemens 
Chas Bushar 
C A Fox 
W B Morgan 
Geo F Mars 
Charles Angee 
Peter S Martz 
Charles Leib 
Geo Halberstadt M D 



Cannarthershire S 

[Waks 



Place of Nativity. 

Berks co 
Schuylkill co 

Do 
Llandilo 
S Wales 

Do 
Berks co 
Chester co 
Scodand 
Dauphin co 
Montgomery co 
New Jersey 
New York city 
Ireland 
Troy N Y 
'Rockingham co N H 
Columbia co 
Philadelphia 
Berks co 

Dauphin (now Lebanon) co 
Germany 
Lebanon co 



Schuylkill co 
Ireland 
Berks co 
Montgomery co 
Philadelphia citv 

Do 
Cornwall co Eng 
Schuylkill co 
Germany 

Germantown Phila eo 
Schuylkill co 
Berks co 
S Wales 
Lancaster co 
Bucks co 
Milton North'd co 
Schuylkill co 
Philadelphia city 



502 



subscribers' names 



Residence — Pottsville. 

Wm Cortelyou 
"Wm Mortimer jr 
Jas G Shoemaker 
Francis J Parvin 
E E Bland 

Daniel SchoUenberger 
Wm Lewis 
Benj Haywood 
James F Harris 
Daniel Richard 
Lewis Rees 
M B Lutz 
Joseph Heslop 
D G Yuengling 
H Strauch 
John McMuUen 



S S Stevens (Shippensburg)Carlisle 
Reese Williams S Wales 



Place of Nativity. 

Morris co N J 

Schuylkill co 

Do 

Maiden creek tp Berks c!? 

Berks co 

Berks co 

S Wales 

England 

S Wales 

Do 

Do 
Reading 
England 
Germany 
Pottsville 
Philadelphia'. 



Hugh Hughs 
John Hopkins 
Evan Peter 
Edw W Mason 
Thomas Williams 
David Jenkins, 
Nathan Cleaver 
John Maginnis 
James Focht 
B F Pomroy 
Wm H Johns 
Thomas Lloyd 
Thomas Evans 
James McAlearney 
Geo Lauer 
Edw N Thomas 
John Griffith 
Stephen Jones 
Thomas Thorn 
P McGovern 
Thomas Petherick 
Henry Davis 
A H Wilson 



N Wales 
S Wales 
N Wales 
Philadelphia 
S Wales 

Do 
Columbia co 
Monogan co Ireland 
Brunswick forge Schuylkill c«? 
Philadelphia 
Pembrokeshire S Wales 
S Wales 
Chester co 
Ireland 
Germany 
Dovvlois S Wales 
Carnarvonshire N Wales 
Northampton co 
New Jersey 
Cavan co Ireland 
Cornwall Eng 
Glamorganshire S Wales 
Columbia CO 



SUBSCRIBERS' NAMES, 



503 



Reaidenc* — Potteville. 

J E Kecham 
William Lerch 
Charles Shelley 
George Reichard 
Peter F Mudey 
Wm Yochan 
George Heaton 
Wm Reese 
Francis Mai pass 
Watkin Prichards 
George Rich 
Wm Blackman 
Enos Blackman 
George S Hookey 
Wm McCoy 
Wm Zellner 
T A Simpson 
Thomas Montgomery 
William McCabe 
Nathaniel Bowen 
Tobias Tombleson 
James Downey 
Charles Vliet ' 
John Spohn 
John E Wynkoop 
Jeremiah Hower 
Joseph Shippin 
Isaac Severn 
William Carter 
Stephen Rogers 
Joshua Dodson 
Wm H H Russel 
James Bantu m 
P E Dougherty 
N "W Neunam 
Joseph Derr 
Stephen Hauser 
Edward Rehr 
Wm McDonnell 
Henry Jenkins 
David K Klock 



Place of Nativity. 

Tioga CO N Y 
Northampton co 
Pottsville 
Easton 

Philadelphia city 
Schuylkill co 
Yorkshire, Eng 
Glamorganshire S Wales 
Shropshire Eng 
Brecknockshire S Wales 
Risca Monmouthshire S Wales 
Wiltshire Eng 

Do 
Philadelphia 
Luzerne co 
Northampton co 
Bristol Bucks co 
Union CO 

Monohon co Ireland 
Gloucestershire Eng 
Schuylkill CO 
Fermanagh Ireland 
Warren co N J 
Berks co 

Newton Bucks co 
Lebanon co 
Philadelphia 

Do 

Do 
Berks co 

Fort Allen Lehigh ce 
Chester co 
Newark N J 
America 
Kent CO Md 
Berks co 

W Penn Schuylkill co 
Reading 
Ireland 

Oneida co N Y 
Berks co 



304 



subscribers' names. 



liesidence — Pottsville. 

Geo W Ent 
Anthony Heslon 
Capt Isaac P Lyken& 
William Millnes 
Isaac Barcla 
Daniel Rose 
Robert Brown 
Samuel W Arms 
Andw N Stamm 
Oeorge W Good 
Charles Lord 
Joseph Rikard 
Wm Taylor 
L Womelsdorfl 
J H Leib 
John Lanciscjit 
W C Harlan 
Andw Oiiphant 
Levi B Fair 
Martin Murphy 
Willian> Kind 
Wm B Mann 
Daniel Sholenberger 
lohn T Werner Editor 
Jacob Heiser 
Edward Yardley 
Eli Shively 
John Derr 
Nicholas Raher 
Jesse R Clark 
James E Mulligan 
Henry Lilley 
E N Esterline 
Samuel Stodd 
Thomas Wren 
Charles Slrimshaw 
Jacob Neyhart 
John Richard 
Charles McAvoy 
Peter Neyhart 
James Trout 



Tlacc of Nativity. 

Columbia co 

Ireland 

Lancaster ca 

England 

Cornwall Eng 

Reading 

Scotland 

Chester co 

Columbia co 

Lebanon co 

Schuylkill co 

Union CO 

Dauphin co 

Berneville Berks c& 

Lancaster co 

Be^ks CO 

Chester co 

Northumberland cO' 

Berks co 

Connecticut 

Northampton co 

Massachusetts 

Berks CO 

Lebanon co 

Schuylkill co 

Bucks CO 

Pottsgrove Montgomery co 

Hamburg Beiks co 

Do do 

Wilmington Del 
Cincinnati Ohio 
Berks co 
Easton 

Staffordshire Eng 
Glasgow Clyde iron works 
Nottmgham Eng [Scotland 
Union CO 
Berks co 
Baltimore Md 
Union co 
Berks co 



SUBSCRIBERS NAMES. 



505 



Residence — Pottsville. 

Adam Eiler 
Capt John Gillman 
Philip Hoffa 
Edward M Davis 
Aaron Shuck 
Aaron Potts 
William Nunemacker 
Michael Messner 
John Mclntire 
Daniel B Henry 
Daniel Christian 
John Kenedy 
Richard Winlack 
Isaac Rich 
Joseph Armstrong 
Abraham Camp 
Charles Dimmig 
Robert B Neligh 
James W Kesne 
Tobias Hauser 
Peter Douty 
George Hay 
John Roberson 
Reuben Godshall 
George Urch 
Edw Morisou 
Stephen Rees 
Enos Zentmyer 
John Van gh ton 
Oliver Snyder 
John Thomas 
John Jones 
Benjamin Thomas 
Shadrach Philips 
David Griffith 
Cornelius Ceary 
David Lamont 
George Dillon 
Prothrow Pro throw 
Joel Moore 
John Hughes 



Place of Nativity. 

Schuylkill co 
Dublin Ireland 
Womelsdorf Berks co 
Monmouthshire S Wales 
Union co 
Burlington co N J 
Pottsville 

Gratzlown Dauphin co 
Caven co Ireland 
Schuylkill co 
Berks co 

Donegal co Ireland 
Derry co do 
Gloucestershire Eng 
While Haven Cumb co Eng 
Northumberland co 

Do 
Northampton co 
Jjuzerne co 

W Penn tp Schuylkill co 
Milton North'd co 
Dumbartonshire Scotland 
Clackmananshire do 
Rush tp Schuylkill co 
Somersetshire England 
Leicestershire do 
Glamorganshire S Wale^ 
Levvisburg Union co 
Longford co Ireland 
Northampton co 
Caermarthenshire S Wales 

Do do 

Brecknockshire do 
Monmouthshire do 
Casrmarthenshire do 
Cork CO Ireland 
Landrickshire Scotland 
Berks CO 

Caermarthenshire S Wales- 
Lehigh CO 
Monmouthshire S Wales 



506 



SUBSCRIBERS NAMES. 



Residence — Pottsville. 

William Howell 

Charles Worm an 

Nathan Fisher 

William Prichard 

E McDonald 

Daniel Fenstermacher 

Edward Skeen 

Joseph Waggoner 

Nathan Moyer 

Isaac Tipton 

John Edwards 

Robert Casewell 

Wm Ashman 

John Jones 

John Templin 

Anthony Maddison 

William Waters 

Evan Morris 

George Barton( pr engineer 

Samuel R Engelman 

Salem Brown 

William B Lewis 

William Raber 

D S Spare M D 

Isaac A Higley 

Benjamin Christian 

Jacob Christian 

George H Stichter 

Robert Roberts 

Isaac Williams 

Thomas Moss 

Andrew Jewitt 

John Irving 

Wm Jones Legshow 

David Evans 

Joseph Carley 

John S Lott 

John Pinkerton 

Jeremiah Lord 

Daniel Edmund 

J Sheafe 



Place of Nativity, 

Monmouthshire S Wales 
Berks co 
Yorkshire Eng 
Monmouthshire S Wales 
Delaware co 
Schuylkill co 
Lancaster co 
Berks co 

Do 
Shropshire Eng 
Pembrookeshire S Wales 
Glamorganshire S Wales 
Somersetshire Eng 
Glamorganshire S Wales 
Northumberland co 
Durham co Eng 
Cornwall co Eng 
Carmarthanshire S Wales 
)Yorkshire Eng 
Lehigh co 
Luzerne co 
Berks CO 

Do 
Montgomery co 
Northampton co Mass 
Reading 
Schuylkill co 
Reading 

Glamorganshire S Wales 
Monmouthshire do 
Durham co Eng 

Do do 
Cumberland co Eng 
Glamorganshire S Wales 

Do do 

Durham co Eng 
Danville Columbia co 
York co Eng 
Schuylkill co 
Brecknockshire S Wales 
Rockingham co N H 



SUBSCRIBERS' NAMES. 



507 



Sesxdence — Potts\iUe. 

John Fox 
James Davis 
Alexander Hawkins 
Orlando Diifur 
Samuel B Fisher 
William Lewis 
John Williams 
John James 
Richard Kirkham 
Hugh Murry 
D B Hass 
Robert Wright 
Michael Geiger 
George McElice 
George C Handy 
Elias Seiler 
Hiram Focht 
George Pifer 
Allen Harmor 
Wm Berninger 
A M Macdonald 
John H James 
Joseph Allison 
Minersville. 
Lemuel D Jones 
C Straub Esq 
John Styers 
Evan Price 

D T Jones (Chief Burgess) 
John Humphreys 
George Sepencer 
Rev A A Anderson 
C W Taylor Esq 
Joseph Christ 
James B Falls 
George Brumm 

Michael Weaver P M 
Richard Berryman 
Jos F Taylor 
Blair McClenachan Esq 



Place of Nativity. 

Berks co 

Worcester co Eng 
barber Albany N Y 

Herkimer co N Y 
Gloucester co N J 
Brecknockshire S Wales 

Do do 

Glamorganshire do 

Lincolnshire Eng 
Rotherglen Scotland 
Shamokin North'd co 
Westmoreland co Eng 
Berks co 
Armah co Ireland 
Cornwall co Eng 
Berks co 
Schuylkill co 
Northumberland co 
Chester co 

Roaring creek Columbia co 
Columbia N Y 
Montgomery co 
Westmoreland Eng 



S Wales 

Northumberknd co 

Warren co N J 

S Wales 

Pembrokeshire S Wales 

Denbigshire N Wales 

Yorkshire Eng 

Delaware 

Union co 

Schuylkill co " 

Columbia co 

Aus Twey-Bruecken Pfaitz 

Baiem 
Sunbury North'd co 
Cornwall co Eng 
New Jersey 
Montgomery co 



508 



SUBSCRIBERS NAMES. 



Residence — Minersvillc. 

James Fox 
Franklin Rhoads 
John T G Kumsius 
Alexander Jaffrey 
James Robertson 
Jacob Wernart 
Thomas Green 
Stephen Squire 
Philip Jones 
Evan Evans 
Thomas Cheshire 
David Griffiths 
Thomas Davis 
Wm De Haven 
Robert Williams 
Hugh Davis 
Walter Philips 
Samuel Woola 
John E Powell 
M G Heilner 
Samuel Gumpert 
Abraham Trout 
M S Gebler 
.lohn P Powell 
John Rogers 
John Davis 
Noah Griffiths 
Jas Levan 
Jacob Weist 
Rev J P Harris 
George J Lawrence 
John Tanner 
Augustus Witraau 
David George 
W Matthews 
Franklin Seitzingcr 
Esau McKim 
Casper Yost 
Thomas Williams 
Moses Weiser 
David Griffith 



Place of Nativity. 

Dauphin co 

Hamburg Berks co 

Hague Holland 

Ayreshire Scotland 

Lanarkshire do 

Bouseweiler France 

Monmouthshire S Wales 

Germany 

Potypool S Wales 

Glamorganshire S Wales 

Shropshire Eng 

Merthyrtidvil S Wales 

Brecknockshire do 

Berks co 

Carnarvonshire N Wales 

Brecknockshire S Wales 

Monmouthshire do 

Montgomeryshire N Wales 

Monmouthshire S Wales 

Berks co 

Philadelphia 

Northumberland co 

Philadelphia 

Merthyetidvil S Wales 

Monmouthshire do 

Myrthetidvil do 

Monmouthshire do 

Berks co 

Germany 

Pembrokeshire S Wales 

Northumberland co 

South Wales 

Reading 

Glamorganshire S Wales 

Brecknockshire do 

Pottsville 

Lancaster co 

Germany 

Blanarvon Monmouthshire S W 

Berks co 

Aberhavest Mont.shireNWales 



SUBSCRIBERS NAMES. 



50® 



Residence — Minersrville. 
John Piatt 

David Llewelyn 
Lewis M Jones 
Joseph H Richards 
Amos H Lewis 
Andrew Patten 
Wm Patton 
John Weightman 
David L Williams 
Edward Plait 

Thomas Piatt 
Reese Davies 
Wm Beadovv 
John E Price 
David E Davies 
John E Davies 
David Price 
Thomas A Williams 
Philip Whalen 
John Horton 
James Williams 
George H Beach 
Charles Betkman 
Wm J Smith M D 
Daniel Weaver 
John S Davis 
W^m R Thomas 
Wm Kantner 
Oscar M Robins 
Edward Halstein 
Samuel Heilner 
Wm Williams 
Wm Hendson 
Luke Mochan 
Evan Gowen 
Thomas Williams 
Abraham Morgan 
Elias Burkert 
John Morrison 



Place of Nativity. 

Caven Mauer Ruabon Dem^ 
bighshire N Wales 

Glamorganshire S Wales 

Monmouthshire do 

Corphilly Glamorg. do 

Berks co 

Northumberland co Eng 
Do do 

Do do 

Argoed Monmouthsh S Wale^ 

Caven Mauer Dembigshire IS 
Wales 

Do do do 

Brecknockshire S W^ales 

Glamorganshire do 

Monmouthshire do 

Glamorganshire do 
Do do 

Do do 

Brecknockshire do 

Ireland 

Llaufyrnach S Wales 

Brecknockshire do 

Staffordshire Eng 

Hanover Germany 

England ' 

Northumberland co 

Carmarthenshire S Wales 

Monmouthshire do 

Schuylkill co 

Siinbury 

Z7nion co 

Sulzdorf Germany 

Monmouthshire S Wales 

Durham co Eng 

Fermanagh co Ireland 

Carmarthenshire S Wales 

Glamorganshire do 

Pontypool Monmouthshire do 

Berks co 

Ireland 



;io 



SUBSCRIBERS NAMES. 



Residence — Minersville. 

George E Pewtner 
James Rogers 
Samuel Kauffman 
Amos Harshberger 
Thomas J Morgan 
Thomas D Lewis 
Aaron Burr 
David Davis 
Richard Francis 
Samuel Felix 
Levi Dietrich 
Lewis Roberts 
Henry Jones 

John D Jones (tailor) 
Edward Kear 
Lewis W Prevost 
William Sharp 
Ebenezer Jones 
James Spencer 
Andrew Kline 
Charles Jodon 
William K Kline 
Herbert Thomas sr 
Herbert Thomas jr 
Henry Jones 
David Jeffries 
Philip Wernest 
Abraham E DeHaveit 
David R Davis 
Thomas T Jones 
Charles Vaughan 
William L Jones 
Thomas Jones 
Daniel R Bright 
Jacob T Thumm 
J L Roberts 
Alexander Manning 
Frederick Zernhalt 
Levi E Thomas 
William Lloyd 



Place of Nativity. 

Portsmouth Eng 

Letrim co Ireland 

Schuylkill co 

Lebanon co 

Monmouthshire S Wales 

Eglvvgselian do 

Mifflin CO 

Glamorganshire S Wales 

Cornwall co Eng 

Schuylkill co 

Northumberland co 

Glamorganshire S Wales 

N Castle Emlyn Carmarthen- 
shire S Wales 

Llanllwyng Parish S Wales 

Dean Forest Gloucester Eng 

Chester co 

Northumberland co 

Nantyglow Monmouthshire 

Yorkshire Eng 

Columbia co 

Milton North'd co 

Berks co 

Monmouthshire S^W ales- 
Do do 
Do do 

Glamorganshire do 

Bauxweiler France 

Union tp Berks co 

Monmouthshire S Wales 

Dowlais Glam'g sh do 

Brecknockshire do 

Glamorganshire do 

Liverpool Eng 

Milton North'd co 

Wirtemberg Europe 

Glamorganshire S Wales 

Lancaster co 

Schuylkill co 

Columbia co 

Glamorganshire S Wake 



subscribers' names. 



511 



Reeidenc* — Minersville. 

William Prichard 
John Trayer 
Owen Hughes 
Benjamin D Evans 
James Eustice 
John Robins 
Thomas C Mannei 
Peter Delcamp 
John Thomas Rees 
John Thomas 
Wm Ambrose 
D R Bennett 
George Hebe 
Henry B rimer 
Lewis P Garner 

Tamaqua. 
Wm Taggert 
Charles W Dannenhauer 
John Edwards 
Benjamin Heilner 
Gideon Whetstone 
Xaffer Miller 
A H Duel 
Robert Harris 
George Sherry 
Emanuel Dormitzer 
Jacob Glace 
Ralph Nattref 
John Tippen 
Wm Eastwood 
Hugh Tamany 
Evan Jones 
Isaac Nattrass 
Peter Dodson 
A L Boughner 
Thomas Meyer 
John Fearer 
Nicholas Hursh 
Stephen Harding 
Seligman Morganroth 
Aaron Richardson 



Place of Nativity. 

Brecknockshire S Wales 
Reading Berks co 
Anglesea N Wales 
Glamorganshire S Wales 
Cornwall Eng 
Somersetshire Eng 
Cornwall do 

Norwegian tp Schuylkill co 
Glamorganshire S Wales 
South Wales 

Do 
Philadelphia 
Wirtemburg Germany 
Germantown Philada co 
Schuylkill co 

Lycoming co 

Schoondorff Wirtemburg 

South Wales 

Manelsdorffby Coburg 

Schuylkill co 

Switzarland 

Dutchess co N Y 

England 

Sussex CO N J 

Germany 

Lancaster co 

England 

Do 

Do 
Ireland 
S Wales 
England 
Luzerne co 
Hunterdon co N J 
Lehigh co 
Germany 

Do 
Hartford Susquehanna eo 
Memelsdorff by Coburg 
Middletoa Durham co Eng^ 



512 



SUBSCRIBERS' NAMES, 



Residence — Tamaqaa. 

Thomas Vanhorn 
Richard Johnson 
John Fulion 
John Walker 
Robert Colgnhoun 
John Love 
Caleb Fisher 
Jacob Bell 

Rev Augustus Georgii 
James Cucklin 
William Barton 
Daniel Draper 
Richard Jenkins 
William Higgins 
Thomas Taggart 
Robert RatcJiff 
Charles Vaughan 
Thomas Johnson sen 
Richard Carter 
Thomas Morgan 
Richard Hoblat 
Isaac Hinkley 
Samuel M'Caffe 
William Donaldson 
John K Smith 
Baltzer Keilman 
David Meyer 
John Crell 
Rev Thomas Foster 
Thomas Cnrriffan 
David Hunter M D 
David W Nixon 
William Clark 
Rev D L Patterson 
William Rinhardsou 
William Tamany 
Thomas Booth 
Thomas Williams 
Jesse Dndson 
Abraham Ahner 
Charles Walker 



Place of Natirity. 

Nescopeck Luzerne co 

England 

Northampton co 

England 

Scotland 

Do 
Columbia CO 
Berks co 
Germany 
Ireland 
Berks co 
England 
South Wales 
Ireland 
Carbon co 
England 

Do 

Do 
Cornwall Eng 
South Wales 

Do 
Franklin co Mass 
Columbia co 
England 
Salem N J 
Germany 
Lehigh CO 
Germany 
England 
Ireland 

Northumberland co 
Philadelphia 
England 
Lancaster co 
England 
Ireland 
England 

Do 
Luzenrne co 
Northampton co 
England 



SUBSeRIBERS NAMfeS. 



513 



Residence — Tamaqua. 

John Bitner 
Thomas Walker 
Thomas Johnson jr 
Edward Lowther 
William Taylor 
Thomas Booth jr 
Patrick McNelus 
Daniel McConielgue 
John McGrail 
James Smiihan 
George Welsh 
Lazarus Rice 
Philip Acker 
William Gwilyn 
Daniel Daniels 
John Sewalt 
Gideon Fruce 
Peter Marks 
John EltinghaiE 
Jacob Albertson ^ 
Nicholas Beltz 
Andrew Kester 
Benjamin Davis 
Roger Delay 
Lawrence Ruck 
David Mahs 
David Love 
Robert Love 
Archibald McDougal 
James Blair 
Wm J Davis 
Jonathan Kershner 
James Moore 
Abraham Boughner 
Nathaniel Edgar 
Robert Carter 
5'eter Tip pin 
James Templin 
Rowland Jones 
John Hendricks 
Ssaac M Jones 

G3 



Place of Nativity. 

Germany 

England 

Durham co England 

Cumberland co do 

Wiltshire do 

Keanon do 

feeland 

Do 

Do 
Cornwall Eng 
Northampton co 
Germany 
Montgomery co 
South Wales 

Do 
Eurbach France 
Berks co 
Furbach France 
England 
New Jersey 
Germany 

Do 
JSouth Wales 
Ireland 
Lehigh co 
Schuylkill c© 
^Scotland 
Do 
Do 
Down CO Ireland 
Merthytidvil S Wales 
Schuylkill co 
Nescopeck Luzerne co 
Schuylkill co 
Columbia co 
Cornwall co Eng 
tSouth Wales 

Do 
Montgomery co 
Philadelphia co 
South Wales 



514 



SUBSCBIBERS NAMES. 



Residence — Tamaquau 

Henry S Kepner 
John Van Valkinburg 
Frederick Kepner 

Port Gaibon. 
Abraham Pott 
h F VVhiiiiey 
a W Blown M D 
Charles llehner 
Hugh Kinsley 
John C Lewis Esq 
Nicholas Dormiizer 
Lewis Heiliier Esq 
G W Wmiersteen 
IfOvi Maltson 
H Guiteriaan 
James Kearny 
A.braham Van Dyka 
Jonalhan Sciiraiier 
John Croseou 
Jesse Turner 
•IT H VViiitJisteen 
Jacob Wentz 
James Siiiiih 
John Estill 
Francis Richardson 
John Davies (tailor) 
Michael Epiiling 
Howell Jenkins 
Ross Bull 
James Causley 
Patrick D Burnett 
James Loiiff 
Alexander Govern 
Jamet^ Molir 
Joeeph Hiimmol 
Edward Col ah an Esq 
Charles Cullinir 
Mailhew Richardson 
F D Liiiher 
Wm Berijer 
Wm C Siiissler, 



Place of Nativity, 

Schuylkill co 

Gneanlo Oisego co N ¥ 

Schuylkill co 

Berks co 
Philadelphia 
Sunbury Nort'd co 
Schuylkill co 
Wexford co Ireland 
Berks CO 
Germany 
Saxony 
Columbia co 
Delaware co 
Memelsdorff Germany 
Louth CO Ireland 
Albany N Y 

Moyerstown Lebanon co. 
Millersburg Dauphin co 
Newcastle co Del 
Columbia co 
Dauphin co 
Ireland 
Luzerne co 
Cumberland co Eng 
Soulh VV'ales 
Columbia co 

Monmouthshire S Wales. 
Berks co 
Schuylkill co 
Ireland 

ReniVewshire Scotland 
Ayrshire do 

Berks CO 
Schuylkill co 
Gal way co Ireland 
London Eng 
Do do 
Lancaster co 
Schuylkill co 
Sunbury Norlh'd co 



subscribers' names. 



515 



"ftisadence — Port Carbon. 

Joseph Fox 

Chailes Holden 

James Batchler 

A Bolton 

Frederick Mertz 

Thomas Mullen 

Matthew Smith 

Samuel Seitzinger 

Charles Raber 

Wm B Hull 

John Curry 

Wm B Jennings 

Miss Hannah Robinson 

Michael Connor 

Jacob S Gordon 

Stephen Hailey 

Charles Lee 

Rev John A Reiley 

David Jones 

Jesse Jones 

Charles Bogart 

John Lynn 

John Adams 

Isaac Grav 

E Allen 

Philip Steinbach jt 

Silas Shepherd Rungan 

Andrew Jackson Rungan 

George Goodman 

James Niles 

Daniel Lookingbill 

Wm Gildroy (Engineer) 

Thomas Brittoa 

John Barger 

Philip H Dougherty 

William Stephenson 

Hiram Lexon 

David Lewis 

Henry Lomsden 

Thomas Graham 

Heary Hays 



Place of Nativity. 

Dauphin co 

Berks co 

Columbia co 

New Jersey 

New Berlin Union co 

Ireland 

Do 
Berks co 

New Rochelle N Y 
Balleycasile Ireland 

Do do 

England 
Chester co 
Kings CO Ireland 
Berks co 
Philadelphia 
Columbia co 
Berks co 

Glamorganshire S Wales 
Glamorganshire S Wales 
Northumberland co 
Leicestershire England 
Worcestershire do 
Norfolkshire do 

Chester co 
Berks CO 
Columbia co 

Do 
Holland 
Lancaster co 
Schuylkill co 

New-Castle upon Tyne Eng 
Nathanpool Scotland 
Norwegian tp Schuylkill co 
Philadelphia co 
Yorkshire England 
Lancastershire do 
Port Carbon Schuylkill co 
Fifeshire Scotland 
Meath co Ireland 
Cumberland co 



516 



subscribers' names. 



Residence — Port Carbon. 

Thomas Farley 
James Wheeler 
Levi Hilbert 
Richard JRichards 

Ohvigsburg. 
Jeremiah Reed (Sheriff) 
Charles Fraily (Prothon) 
J H Downing (Reg& Rec) 
Col John Bannan 
C Loeser Esq 
John P Hobart Esq 
J W Rosebery Esq 
James H GraelFEsq 
Andrew J Baam M D 
Fred'k Millet (Shoemaker) 
Joseph W Bird do 
G B Zulick 

N Wetzel (Tobacconist) 
Jacob AUebach 
Henry Krebs 
Henry Cronemiller 
Charles VVitman Esq 
James M Riland 
Hon Edward B Hablej 
Jacob Deibert 
George Douglass 
John A Schwalm 
Mark Deibert 
Christian Berger Esq 
Philip VVeiser Esq 
Bernard Yeager 
Isaac DeFrehn 
John C Rahn 
George D Boyer 
Jacob Matthews 
Henry Hesser 
Samuel Leffler 
George LeiHer 
John T Schlickenmoyer 
Gen John M Brickel 



Place of Nativity. 

Meath co Ireland 
Carven co do 
Schuylkill co 
Broseley Eng 

Pottsville SchuylkrH <?o 

Reading 

Chester co 

Do 
Montgomery co 
Potts town do 
Orwigsburg Schuylkill a 

Do do 

Reading 
Orwigsburg 
Schuylkill co 
Baltimore Md 
Berks co 

Do 
Schuylkill co 
Union co 
Reading 
Montgomery co 
Reading 
Schuylkill co 
Philadelphia 
Schuylkill co 

Do 

Do 
Berks so 
Schuylkill co 

Do 

Do 

J>o 

Do 

Do 
Lancaster co 

Do 
Germany 
Reading 



SUBSCRIBERS NAJftES. 



S17 



Residence — Union Totvnship. 


Place of NatiVi^. 


Thomas Bitler Esq 


Berks co 


Samuel Snyder 


Schuylkill co 


Samuel G Miller 


Do 


Israel D Freheu 


Do 


John Rupert 


Do 


Andrew Stauffer 


Do 


> Daniel L Stauffer 


Do 


Isaac Dewald 


Lycoming co 


Waters S Chillson 


Essex N J 


John Breisch 


Berks co 


Jacob Zimmerman Esq 


Do 


Mark Bitler 


Do 


James Bitler 


Do 


Music HalU 




Richard Mannel 


Cornwall co England 


James Fredennick 


Do do 


Mark Thomas 


Do do 


Thomas Blackney 


Do do 


Elisha Mannel 


Do do 


Tuscarora, 




James Palmer 


England 


Samuel Mitchel 


Philadelphia co 


Geo R Drey 


Lehigh co 


Edward Dreher 


Schuylkill co 


Jonathan Drey 


Berks co 


Charles Horn 


Hunterdon co N J 


Jonas Richard 


Berks co 


Henry Bezzenberger 


Germany 


Jacob H Lutz P M 


Schuylkill co 


Patterson., 




P McMahon 


Ireland 


Thomas Gibson 


Chester co 


Robert Jacobs 


England 


John Colborn 


Lycoming co 


Patrick Freeman 


Ireland 


James McLaren 


Glasgow Scotland 


Matthew Connei 


Kilkenny Ireland 


John Fogerty 


Sligo CO do 


Christopher Govert 


Ireland 



518 



SUBSCRIBERS NAMES, 



Residence — Petterson. 

Dudley Grant 
David C Mills M D 
Daniel Maderfort 

New Philadelphia, 
Charles Smith 
Nathan Barlow 
Geo P Lander 
Conrad Bob 
Geo Robison 
Edward Hulme 
R G Bland 
Patrick Owens 

Millport, 
Isaac Marts 
John Williams 
Thomas Meredith 
James McLellan 
Joseph Balliet 
Ludwig Bensinger 
Jacob Kemmel 
Reuben Dreher 
William Shumars 
John Martz 
Asa Balliet 
James Toben 
Daniel Edwards 
John Bartlett 
William Raper 
Charles Cleveland 
Edward Birminghanv 

Lick Run. 
John Kelly 
Henry Davies 
Jonathan Willingham 
William McKean 
John Uren 



Place of Nativity- 
Ireland 

Philadelphia city 
Schuylkill co 

Ireland 

Montgomery co 
Northampton co 
Montgomery co 
Lanarkshire Scotland 
Humeville Bucks co 
Mt Airy Berks co 
Riiscommon Ireland 

New Berlin Union co 
Monmouthshire S Wale* 
Brecknockshire do 

Scotland 
Lehigh co 
Schuylkill co 
Lancaster co 
Schuylkill CO 
Columbia co 
Union co 
Lehigh co 
Kilkenny Ireland 
Glamorganshire S Wales 
Mauch Chunk 
Shropshire Eng 
Massachusetts 
Caven co Ireland 

Kilkenny co Ireland 
Brecknockshire S Wales 
Yorkshire Eng 
Donegal co Ireland 
Cornwall co Eng 



Silver Creek and Vailej' Furnace. 
Thomas Racket England 

Wm Richards (Blacksmith) Carnarvonshire N Wales 
Patrick Whalen Kilkenny co Ireland 



SUBSCRIBERS NAMES. 



51§ 



Residence — S.Creek&V.Furnace.Place of Nativity. 



Edward O'Brien 

George Fritz 
John Hutchison 
John James 
Mark Downey 
Robert Pelrick 
Michael Qoinn 
Rees Jones 
Alexander 
Lieut John McNair 

Hubleyville. 
Charles Bennett 
Benjamin Titus 
Samuel Keller 
John Lovvry 
Hugh Carlin 
James Gillaspa 
Thomas Harratt 
John Roe 
Joseph Beachim 
Evan Williams 

Bellmont. 
David Oliver 
Charles Long 
Wm Clark 
James Weir 



Kelkrnny co Ireland 
Fr mce 

Lanarkshire Scoilnnd 
Brecknockshire S Wales 
Kerry co Ireland 
Ranfordshire Scotland 
Amagh co Ireland 
Brecknockshire S Walee 
Rant'rewshire Scotland 
Ramsey Isle of Man 

Near Bellefonte Centre co 
Easton 
Berks co 

Kilkenny co Ireland 
Donegal co Ireland 
Philadelphia co 
Lancastershire England 
Montgomeryshire N Wales 
Somerset co Eng 
Monmouthshire S Wales 

Morris co N J 
Lehiijh CO 
England 
Renfrewshire Scotland 



Wm Williams (Bl'ksmith) Carmarthenshire S Wales 



Robert Sterling Brown 
Richard Mison 
Henry King 
Thomas Colahan 
John R Jones 
James L-^rd 
Patrick Gamly 
Wm Henderson 
Wm Westwood 

Rush Township. 
James Blew 
A Boughner Esq 
Samuel King 



Ayrshire Scotland 
Cardiganshire S Wales 
Sugar LoafLiizerne co 
Galway co Ireland 
Brecknockshire 8 Wales 
Schuylkill co 
Roscommon co Ireland 
Fifeshire Scotland 
Lanarkshire do 

Somerset co N J 
Hunterdon co N J 
Neecopeck Luzerne co 



520 



subscribers' names. 



Residence — Rush Township. 

John Kaup 
Henry Dresh 
Jacob Faust 

West Penn. 
Jacob Longacre Esq 
Jacob Morer 
Henry Beacham 

Mount Carbon. 
L Rothernnel 
Wm W Bright 
John Patton 
George Grim 

Young's Landing.. 
George Wilde 
James Hower 
John Braddburg 

Eagle Hill. 
Daniel Richards 
Morgan Thomas 
Jos Crean 
Aaron Persun 
David Ljewis 
Daniel Williams 
Patrick Reddington 
Thomas Humble 
Frederick Butler 
Benjamin Whetstone 
David Richards 
Thomas Machal 

Windy Harbor. 
Wm Gass 
Samuel Johnson 
Enoch Evans 

Belfast. 
Edward Seddoii 
Wm Hilton 
Isaac P Dunlap 

Bear Ridg&. 
Wm Hacker 



Place of Nativity, 

Schuylkill co 
Do 
Do 

Montgomery co 
Northampton co 
Somersetshire Eng 

Northumberland co. 
Berks go 
Scotland 
Montgomery co 

Yorkshire Eng 
Lancastershire England 
Do do 

Monmouthshire S Wales 
Glamorganshire do 
Stafibrdshire Eng 
Salem Luzerne co 
Glamorganshire S Wales 
Merthyrtidvil do 
Roscommon Ireland 
Northumberland co England 
Yorkshire do 

W Penn tp Schuylkill co 
Brecknockshire S Wales 
Do do 

Yorkshire Eng 
Philadelphia 
Staffordshire Eng 

Lancastershire Eng 

Do do 

Bucks CO 

Wilkshire Eng 



subscribers' names. 



521 



Residence — Bear Ridge. 

\Vm Evans 
John Morgan 
Lafayette Graham 
Thomas Meredith 
Griffiths Edwards 
Simpson Womer 
Wm Zimmerman, 
Henry Lloyd 
David L Richards 
John Davis 
AVm Hartzog 
John Thomas 
Thomas John 
Patrick McGovern 
Samuel W Graham 
James Bury 
John Boyer 
David Powell 

St. Clear. 
Bartin Evans 
Daniel R Slobig 
Geo W Stokes 
Joshua Williams 
Humphrey Lewis 
John J Thomas 
John B Crozier 
Michael Jyoa 
John Mitchell 
John Heatherington 
Jonathan Heatherington 
Joseph Foster 
Jacob Metz 
Benj FreniCh 
Daniel Fack 
David Price 
David Jones 
W H Lawrence 
John Mason 
Daniel Hartman 
David Metz 
James Spjittle 



Place of Nativity. 

Bristol England 
Monmouthshire S Wales 
Montgomery co 
Glamorganshire S Wales 
Brecknockshire - do 
Berks co 
Lancaster ca 
Schuylkill co 
Glamorganshire S Wales 
Monmouthshire do 
Schuylkill co 
Carmarthenshire S Wales 
Brecknockshire do 

Carlow CO Ireland 
Montgomery co 
Cheshire England 
Schuylkill co 
Brecknockshire S Wales 

Bucks co 
Schuylkill co. 
Columbia co 
S Wales 
N Wales 
S Wales 

Philadelphia city 
Ireland 
Lancaster co 
England 
Durham co Eng 
Cheshire do 
Columbia co. 
Lycoming co 
Northampton co 
Carmarthenshire S Wales 
Do do 

Columbia CO 
South Wales 
Columbia co 

Do 
Worcestershire Eng 



582 



subscribers' names. 



Rastdetice — St Clear. 

Wm Cliaiindy 
John Hodgson 
David Rickett 
Ellis Rickett 
Henry Gwiii 
Wm Naylor 
Philip Lewis 
Thomas Reese 
Robert Hughes 
Daniel Sheaffer 
Michael Long 
Jeremiah Wilde 
Aaron Hower 
Joel Metz 
Joseph E Davis 

Mill Creek. 

Samuel Capewell 
Thomas Manghen 
Robert Wall 
C Gormly 
Philip Preen 
John Moore 
Joseph Atkinson 
John Santeejr 
Richard Hill 
Geo W WiiggoTter 
Henry HofTman 
Hugh McAllister 

New Castle. 
Ephraim Philips 
John McBnnon 
Peter K Seiizinger 
Henry Rlinads 
Abraham Camp 
Wm Littlehales 

Geo Reifsnyder Esq 
Levi Reber 
Thomas Young 
George Allen 
Wm Dickenson 



Place of Nativity. 

Oxford England 
North England 
N Wales 

Do 
Columbia co 
England 

Do 
Glamorganshire S Walee 
Caerraarlhenshire do 
Berks CO 
Bairen Germany 
Yorkshire Eng 
Columbia co 

Do 
Caermarlhenshire S Walee 



Staffordshire England 
Northumberland co 
Kilkenny (ro Ireland 
Londniuierry do 
Week ford do 

Durham co Eng 
Do do 

Union tp Luzerne co 
Staffordshire Eng 
Montgomery co 
Kilkenny co Ireland 
Juniata co 

Northumberland co 
Fermanagh co Ireland 
Berks CO 
Columbia co 
Nortliumberland co 
Shropshire Eng 
Montgomery co 
Schuylkill co 

New Castle upon Tyne Eng 
Nottinghamshire do 

Do d© 



subscribers' names. 



22S 



Kesidence — New Castle. 

John Roscoe 
Peter Dickenson 

Adams' Colliery. 
James Adams 
B Morris 
Henry Lloyd 
John Rupp 

Centreville. 
Thomas C Conner 
Robert White 

Wadesville. 
John Morgan jr 
Rees David 
Daniel Dillman 
Jas Fitzsimmons Esq 
Jefferson UmbehawberJ 
John B McCord 
Rees Rees 
Thomas Jones 
Thomas Owens 
Wm Dabenpart 
John Byrne 
Henry Olsey 
David Davis 
Joseph Denning 
George Altin 
Dennis Fielding 
Wm Crisswell 

Flowery field. 
Samuel Cliff 
John Daniel 
Thomas Young 

East Delaware Mines. 
Thomas Ferry 
John C Leibig 
Edward Morrison 
John Rees 
Peter McDonald 
Wm Lyons 
Edmund Pounder 



Place of Nativity. 

Nottinghamshire England 
Do do 

Antrim co Ireland 
Tyrone co do 
Llonhilleth S Wales 
Germany 

London Eng 

Beth Fife co Scotland 

Polypool S Wales 
Glamorganshire do 
Sclinylkill co 
Selinsgrove Union co 
Lebanon co 
Schuylkill CO 
Glamorganshire S Wales 
Cardiganshire do 

Brecknockshire do 

Staffordshire Eng 
Wicklow CO Ireland 
Sussex CO N J 
Caermartlienshire S Wales 
Somersetshire Eng 
Derbyshire do 
Lancastershire do 
Staffordshire do 

Cheshire England 
Cornwall co Eng 
Yorkshire Eng 

Durham co Eng 
Berks CO 

Lancastershire Eng 
Glamorganshire S Wales 
Monachan co Ireland 
Schuylkill co 
Yorkshire Eng 



5^4 



StJASCRIBERS NAM5ES. 



Residence — E. Delav<nare Mines. Place of Nativity. 



John Peasdale 
Daniel Rothermel 
John Andrey Kirkley 
Jacob John 
Philip Manharat 
Scott Steel 
James Gennan 
James McLaughlin 
Anthony Durkin 
Christian Zeiher 
Patrick Sweny 
Thomas Ferry r 
Joseph Collier 
Henry James jr 
Thomas Morgan 
Wm Symmons 
Benjamin Smith 
John Hosking 

North American Mines. 

Daniel Evans 
Thomas Jones 
Daniel Rees 
Thomas Jones jr 
Wm Howell 
Miss Margaret Lewis 
Renna Jones 
John Martin 
William March 
Lemuel Osborn Lafy 
John Mann 

Haywood^s Collier)'; 

Nicholas Welsh 
George McNeille 
John Hadley 
William Harris 
Ralph Shaw 
George Milnes 
Michael Mangen 
Thomas G May 



Yorkshire England 

Northumberland co 

New Castle Upon Tyne Eng 

Columbia co 

France 

Glasgow Scotland 

Kilkenny co Ireland 

Galway co do 

Mayo CO do 

Trear co Prussia 

Mayo CO Ireland 

Durham co Eng 

Kilkenny co Ireland 

Cornwall co Eng 

Monmouthshire S Wales 

Cornwall co Eng 

Monmouthshire S Wales 

Gludgen Cornwall co Eftg 



Carmarthenshire S Wales 
Do do 

Do do 

Do do 

Monmouthshire do 
Do do 

Union co S Carolina 

Glamorganshire S Wales 

Fermanagh co Ireland 

Columbia co 

Manchester Eng 

Longford co Ireland 
Scotland 
England 
South Wales 
England 
Do 
Ireland 
Cornwall Eng 



SUBSCRIBERS NAMES. 



525 



Residence — Landingville. 

F Landerbran (Whampoa) 

Patrick McAtee 

James Brady 

John Sheridan 

John Gaynor 

James Gaynor 

Charles Mosser 

John Haldeman Esq 

Alfred Kolb 

Franklin J Seigfried 

Paul Dray 

Samuel Mertz (Merchant) 

Henry Maurer 

Schuylkill Haven. 
Rev George C Drake 
J G Koehler M D 
A W Leyburn Esq 
Michael Beard 
George Kaufman Esq 
John Marlin Esq 
Robert Jones 
J Theophilus Rigg 
Samuel H Shannon M D 
Nathan Palsgrove 
W J Haas 
George Heisler 
William J Dobbins 
James B Levan 
Daniel Dreher 
William Weaver 
AVilliam C Guldin 
William Kramer 
John Jones 
Lewis G Wunder 
Henry S Spotwell 
John H Guertler 
Phihp Boyer 
Charles Cantner 
Henry Kauffman 
Daniel Lavenberg 
Jacob FuUerlon 



Place of Nativity. 

Philadelphia city 
Longford co Ireland 
Cavan co do 

Do do 

Do do 

Do do 

Schuylkill co 

Do 

Do 

Do 
Berks co 

Do 

Do 

Wilkesbarre 
Philadelphia 
Carlisle 
Berks co 

Do 
Lancaster co 

Monmouthshire S Waies 
Berks co 
Montgomery co 
Berks co 
Sunbury 
Schuylkill co 
Lehigh co 
Kutztovvn Berks co 
Schuylkill co 
Berks co 

Do 
Schuylkill co 

bo 
Germantown Philada oo 
Philadelphia 
Basle Switzarland 
Schuylkill co 

bo 

Do 
Do 

Chester co 



526 



subscribers' names. 



Residence — Schuylkill Haven. Place of Nativity. 

Chester co 



James E Murray 

D H Stager 

Edward H Wheeler 

Flavel Roan 

William Reber 

Jonathan Heisler 

George Dillman 

F W Snyder 

Nathan S Hardenstine 

Robert Bass 

Charles Christ 

D D Lewis ( Waterloo locks)Bucks co 

Llewellyn. 
Thomas Williams 
James Rowe 
Edmund Holt 
Henry Bresler 
Amos Riegel 
Frederick Longaback 
Wm Hoch 
Jacob Hi me jr 
Samuel Reed 
Joseph Cockill 
John Koch 
Robert John 
Thomas B Abbot Esq 
Walkin Revnon 



Schnylkdl co 
Philndt'lphia 
Nor h'.imberland eo 
Schuylkill co 

Do 

Do 

Do 
Montgomery co 
Ramsey England 
Reading 



Pembrokeshire S Wales 

Do do 

Lanciistershire Eng 
Pinegrove tp Schuylkill co 
Lykens tp Dauphin co 
Coventry tp Chester co 
Wavne tp Schuylkill co 

' Do do 

Pinegrove tp do 
Phihidelphia county 
Manheim tp Schuylkill eo 
Pembrokeshire S Wales 
Berks co 
Glanioganshire S Wales 



James Andrews 


Monmouthshire do 


Jon Thomas 


C.jrin irilisoshire do 


David Thomas 


Do . do 


John Rodgers 


Monmouthshire do 


Thomas Davis 


Do do 


James Walker 


Kilkenny Ireland 


Damon Schrop 


Wayne tp Schuylkill co 


Francis Spencer 


Yorkshire Eng 


Jacob Scherman 


Bf rks now Schuylkill co 


Costerville. 




James Love 


Glasgow Scotland 


Abraham Bitten 


Monmouthshire S Wales 


John Evans 


Do do 


AlJred Ford 


Gloucestershire Eng 



SITBSCRIBERS N.\MES. 



521 



Residence — Costerville, 

Mrs Emma Britten 
Abraham Ayres 
John Lazarus 
Solomon George 
Lewis Lewis 
Mrs Elizabeth Britten" 
Joseph Swansou 
Griffith Williams 
David Joiif^s 
William INIeling 
Mordecai Powell 

Forrestville and Branch 
Salathiel Harris 
Gavin McCully 
David Glover 
David Conway 
Wm R Thomas 
Goodman Doiban 
John Davis 
Edward Prossar 
Thomas Brown 
Thomas Evans 
Robert Piuslow 
John Jones 
Wm Thomas 
Francis San key 
Hugli Mc(31oskey 
Samuel Green 
John Dallon 

West-West. 
Rev Daniel Rees 
Morgan Williams 
Wm Davis 
How el Jappoys 
John Price 
David Webber 
Joseph Evans 
Robert Hufraan 
John Mason 
Joseph Watts 
Charles Ilofmaa 



Place of Nativity. 

Gloucestershire England 
Devonshire Eng 

Do do 
Northampton co 
Monmouthshire S Wales 
Peyca do 

Cumberland co Eng 
Brecknockshire S Wales 
Glamorganshire do 

Leland 

Monmouthshire S Wales 
Township. 

Cornwall co Eng 
Ayreshire Scotland 

Do do 

Do do 

Monmouthshire S Wales 
Dembigbshire N Wales 
Glamorganshire S Wales. 
Brecknockshire do 
Shropshire England 

Do do 

Do do 

Glamorganshire S Wales 
Monmouthshire do 
Shropshire Eng 
Tyrone co Ireland 
Staffordshire Eng 
West Meath co Ireland 

Glamorganshire S Wales 
Do do 

Monmouthshire do 

Glamortranshire do 
Do do 

Do do 

Bedfordshire Eng 

B^rks co 

Gloucestershire Eng 

Durham co do 

Berks co 



528 



subscribers' names. 



Residence — West- West. 

John Gable 
Thomas George 
William Whitehead 
Peter Franck 
John Davis 
George Stall 
John Tonkin 
Lawrence Chadwick 
John May 
Thomas Kenny 
Hngh Murry 
Peter Murry 
Evan Evans 
Wm Jones 
Thomas Davis 
James Bryant 
Timothy Conlon 
Samuel Bush 
Benjamin Lee 
Othniel Geiger 
Wm Huffman 
Solomon Hass 
Jacob Britton 
Solomon McKinney 

West Wood. 
John Spencer 
Thomas Jones 
Wm Price 
Samuel Gillingham 
Wm Thomas 
Mrs Catharine Pugh 
John Oagers 
Mrs Sarah Wilde 
Miss Sarah Hardy Wilke 
Joseph Wilde 
Richard Heath 
Wm Carlyon 
Nicholas Thomas 
James Parr 
Charles Surrick 
Jonathan VVasley 



Place of Nativity. 

Schuylkill co 
Monmouthshire S Wales 
Lancastershire Eng 
Lehigh co 
Staffordshire Eng 
Germany 
Cornwall Eng 
Lancaster co Eng 
Cornwall Eng 
Galway co Ireland 
Hothergon Scotland 
Antrim co Ireland 
Glamorganshire S Wales 
Carmarthenshire S Wales 
Glamorganshire do 
Gloucestershire Eng 
Mayo CO Ireland 
Gloucestershire Eng 
Lancaster co do 

Berks CO 

Do 
Shamokin North'd co 
Schuylkill co 
Berks CO 

Yorkshire Eng 
Glamorganshire S Wales 
Brecknockshire do 

Philadelphia co 
Carmarthenshire S Wales 
Shropshire Eng 
Cornwall do 
Yorkshire do 
Delaware co 
Yorkshire Eng 
Gloucester CO Eng 
Cornwall co Eng 

Do do 

Lancastershire do 
Berks co 
Cornwall Eng 



subscribers' names. 



529 



Residence — West- Wood. 

Samuel G Dobbin 
Samuel Simms 
George Heafield 
John Cerbey 
John Parry 
Llewelyn Evans 
Richard Dennis 
John Philips 
Philip Detrich 

McKeansburg. 

Jacob F Freichler M D 
Lewis Dreher 
Dewald H Poff 
Joshua Boyer 
Benneville Medler 

Norwegian Township. 

Elias Reed (Engineer) 

Samuel Foulds 

Abraham Horn 

David Brown 

William Beadle 

Jacob G Krieger 

Michael Gaghan 

John L Beadle 

Edmund Richardson 

Edward Pugh 

John Dixon 

William Hooler 

George Sidgwick 

Evan F Lloyd 

Patrick F McAndrews 

Samuel Zimmerman 

John Reed 

Stephen Barnes 

Thomas Lewis (Engineer) 

Chas Reed 

Thomas Rees 

Daniel Morgan (Engineer) 

Mark Hadley 

John Woodhouse 

H2 



Place of Nativity. 

Burlington co N J 
Denbighshire Eng 
Do do 

Schuylkill co 
Brecknockshire S Wales 
Glamorganshire do 
Cornwall co Eng 
Do do 

Schuylkill co 

Bucks CO 
Schuylkill co 
Berks co 
Schuylkill co 
Do 



Schuylkill co 
Dembighshire Eng 
Berks co 

Northumberland co Enf 
Durham co Eng 
Northumberland co 
Kings CO Ireland 
Durham co Eng 
Philadelphia co 
Gloucestershire Eng 
Lancastershire do 
Do do 

Durham co do 

Pembrokeshire S Wales 
Mayo CO Ireland 
Lancaster co 
Schuylkill co 
Philadelphia 

Monmouthshire S Wales 
Schuylkill o** 
Pembrokeshire S Wales 
Monmouthshire do 
Bristol Eng 
Staffordshire Eng 



530 



SUBSCRIBERS' NAMES. 



Residence — Norwegian Tp. 


Place of Nativity. 




David Powell (Engineer) 


Brecknockshire S Wales 


Wm Taylor 


Somersetshire Eng 




Stephen O'Hara 


Ireland 




Wm Davis 


Glamorganshire S Wales 


Isaac Williams 


Do 


do 


Edward Hopkins 


Do 


do 


Edward Llewellyn 


Monmouthshire 


do 


Thomas Jenkins 


Do 


do 


Emanuel Kerbert 


Do 


do 


William Watkins 


Radnorshire 


do 


Samuel Tiley 


Somerset CO England 


Joseph Bateman 


Do do 




Rollins' Colliery. 






Thomas Wigam 


England 




Thomas Young 


Do 




George Geiger 


Columbia eo 




West Branch Valley. 






A A Clarkson 


Philadelphia 




Alfred DeForest jr 


New York 




Charles W Hill 


Do 




Henry Roehrig 


France 




George Dengler 


Schuylkill co 




Rev George Jennings 


Philadelphia 




Benj Kantner 


Berks co 




Charles B DeForrest 


New York 




Geo Payne 


Ireland 




Benj M Lewis 


Berks co 




George Markle 


Schuylkill co 




Wm S Hill 


New York City 




City of Philadelphia. 






Z Prall M D 


New Jersey 




A Steinberger M D 


Lehigh CO 




Samuel Laird Esq 


Glasgow Scotland 




W W Causler 


Philadelphia city 




Wm A Barnes 


Tyrone Ireland 




Thomas Marris Esq 


Bucks CO 




Charles Miller Esq 


Philadelphia co 




Walter Patterson 


Do 




Edw J Clause 


Philadelphia 




S L Hughes 


Bucks CO 




N Lazarus 


Philadelphia 




T N Buck Esq 


Bridgeton N 





subscribers' names. 



531 



Residence — W. Brunswick Tp. 


Place of Nativity. 


Gabriel Bertho 


Berks co 


Abraham Moyer 


Do 


Samuel Blackburn 


Donegal Ireland 


Charles Kramer 


Schuylkill co 


Bernard Bannon 


Caven co Ireland 


Samuel B Medlar 


Schuylkill co 


James Price Esq 


Philadelphia 


Daniel Dreher 


Schuylkill co 


East Brunswick Township 


. 


Jonathan Yost 


Montgomery co 


Charles Dreher 


Schuylkill co 


Wra B Kershner 


Do 


John Seltzer 


Berks co 


Simon Morberger 


Schuylkill co 


John Raush 


Do 


Charles Focht 


Do 


S B Merkel 


Berks co 


Christian Koch jr 


Schuvlkiil co 


Israel Stamer 


Do 


Bernard Koch 


Do 


Jonas Bach 


Do 


Charles Koch 


Do 


Peter Sterner 


Berks co 


Jacob G Stewart 


Concord N H 


Peter Jones 


Berks co 


Wm H Hill 


Do 


William Back 


Do 


Geo Focht 


Schuylkill co 


Port Clinton. 




Jacob Casper 


Germany 


George Wiggan 


England 


Gabriel Metz 


Schuylkill co 


John Philipson 


Durham co Eng 


Reuben R Binder 


Montgomery co 


Hiram Royer 


Berks co 


Wm Moyer 


Do 


George Bond 


Warwickshire Eng 


John K Siegfried 


Berks co 


Martin Hummel 


Schuylkill co 


Geo Heebnir 


Chester co 


Jonas K Siegfried 


Schuylkill co 



532 



subscribers' names. 



Eesidence — Port Clinton. 

Reuben Sands 

Wm Provins 

James Elliott 

Geo W Reifsnyder 

Peter Matteson 

Wm Acker 

Thomas Acker 

J McCordy (Reading) 

Milton Nice (Hamburg) 

J Weidman (Shoem'rsville) 

Schuylkill Forge. 
John Sehall Esq 
Peter Boner 
Michael Hartman 
John Gibson 
David Major 

Lewistown. 
Stephen RingerEsq Lehigh co 

Frederick Dreher (House)Schiiylkill co 
J Seitzinger (Broad Mount Do 
J Fetter (Sugarloaf Luz eo)Berks co 
John Flick (Mauch Chunk) North amp ton co 

Manheim Town&hip. 
John Bernheisel Schuylkill co 

Levi Arnold Luzerne co 

John Maurer Berks co 

Daniel Bartolet Do 

John Strauch Do 

George Kushner Schuylkill co 

Wm Minnich Pottsvilledo 

L Beyel (Waterloo locks) Elsez France 
Chas Dengler ( do Hotel) Montgomery co 



Place of Nativity. 

Northampton co 
Tyrone co Ireland 
Donegal co do 
Schuylkill co 
Berks co 

Do . 

Lehigh co 
Berks county 
Lehigh co 
Berks co 



Oley tp Berks co 
Do 
Do 

Maryland 
Chester co 



Rockland tp Berks co 
Reading Berks co 
Coventry Chester co 
Schuylkill co 
Lancaster Ohio 



Benjamin Helbert 

John Deatrich 

Samuel Smith 

Wm Heffner (Lewisporl) 

John Duncan (Lancaster) 

Wm Stephenson (Barry tp) Durham co Eng 

A H Wilson ( do ) Columbia co 

G Lewis (Shickshinny Pa) Templeton Penob'k shire S W 



subscribers' names. 



533 



Residence — Manheira Tp. 

D Schellhamraer (Luz co) 
James Kester ( do ) 
Pine Grove. 

William Spangler 

Vincent L Conrad 

Jolin Strimpfler Esq 

David Lomison 

William H Reinochl 

Jacob March 

James Greager 

Geo W Hain 

David Greenawalt 

John Kitzmiller P M 

Jacob Huber 

Peter Filbert 

Samuel Guss Esq 

Henry Wile 

John A Bechtle Esq 

William P Kendall 

William Bower 

John Snyder 

William Forrey 

Levi Miller 

Daniel G Kutz 

John F Derby 

George Lauigan 

George Schartel 

K Robinson M D 

Jacob Christ M D 

Benjamin Sad tier V D M 

John E Fertig 

Lewis Lahr 

John Werntz 

Henry Werntz 

Lewis Reeser 

William Gorgas 

Frederick Krecker V D M 

Henry Shantz 

Raymond Ongst 

Joseph H Weaver 

Reuben H Stees 



Place of Nativity. 

Columbia co 
Luzenrne co 



Reading Berks co 
Pinegrove Schuylkill co 
Langansalza Germany ^ 
Columbia co 
Lebanon co 
Chester co 
|3erks CO 

Do 
Lebanon co 
Franklin CO 
Lebanon co 
Berks co 

Do 

Do 

Do 

Do 

Do 
Schuylkill co 
Womelsdorf Berks co 
Lancaster co 
Wayne tp Schuylkill co 
Albany co N Y 
Philadelphia city 
Pinegrove tp Schuylkill co 
Lancaster co 
Reading 
Baltimore Md 
Wayne tp Schuylkill co 

Do do 

Lancaster co 

Do 
Berks co 
Lancaster co 
Philadelphia 
Lebanon Lebanon co 
Pinegrove Schuylkill co 
Lebanon co 
Middleburg Union co 



554 



SUBSICRIBERS' NAMES. 



Residence — Pine Grove. 

John Hoch 
Joseph Horn 
George Trostel 
John Guyder 

Mount Pero Furnace. 
James Betz 
Wm Russel 
Isaac Trion 
Wm Posey 
Wm Maybury 

Swatara Furnace. 
George Betz 
Solomon A Philips 
Philip Umberger 
George Herman 
J B Brovver 
Wm B Walton 
Jacob Focht 
John Kline 
Daniel Nogle 

Tremont. 
John Bonwitz 
Mahlon McLaughland 
Samuel Hippie 
Wm Foust 

Donaldson. 
Henry Lomison 
James M Clark 
Joseph Bodenstine 

Lorberry Mines. 
Boric Meek 
Samuel Foust 
Wm Netherwood 
Morgan Lewis 
Wm Wigham 
Tiniothy Murphy 
Joseph Powell 
Samuel Warren 
Edward Neal 
Michael Duffy- 



Place of Nativity, 

Lebanon co ' 

Berks co 
Lebanon co 
Chester co 

Berks co 
Chester co 

Newmanstown Lebanon co 
New Jersey 
Montgomery co 

Newmanstown Berks co 
Lancaster co 
Dauphin CO 
Luzerne co 
Berks co 

Do 

Do 
Spickern Erance 
York CO 

Womelsdorf Berks co 
Danville Columbia co 
Landisburg Perry co 
Montgomery co 

Columbia CO 
Ontario co N Y 
Halifax Dauphin co 

Chester co 
Montgomery 'co 
Mirfield England 
Monmouthshire S Wales- 
Northumberland CO Eng 
Cork co Ireland 
Radnorshire S Wales 
Northampton co Eng 
Lancaster co 
New York city 



SUBSCRIBERS NAMES. 



535 



Reeidenee — Lorberry Mines. Place of Nativity. 



Jacob Werntz 
Henry James 
Jacob Bickelman 
Griffin Slack 

Wayne Township. 

John Hummel 

J L Riland 

Thomas Acka 

Jacob N Fertig 

Henry Daniels 

Jacob F Faust 

Jacob Mennig Esq 

George P Shall 

Daniel Fritz 

Joseph Berger 

Nathan Levy 

Isaac Dengler 

Daniel F Berger 

Wm F Berger 

Wm Wagner (W Brunsw 

Heckshuville. 
Saml Keech 
Timothy Hollahan 
John O'Bryen 
John Dalrymple 
Andrew Foulds 
Patrick Brennan 
Hugh Doolay 
Thomas Wright 
John Abling 
Jacob Kohler 
Thomas Morgan 
John Scott 
Duncan Weir 
Martin Boyle 

Weaverstown. 
Elias Hughs 
David Evans 
Griffith George 
John Griffith 



Lancaster co 
Cornwall co England 
Saarbraok co Prussia 
Derbyshire England 

Schuylkill co 

Near Norristown Montgom co 
Manheim tp Schuylkill co 
Wayne tp do 
Berks co 

Branch tp Schuylkill co 
Lancaster co 
Schuylkill co 

Pinegrove tp Schuylkill co 
Manheim do 

Northwhitehall Lehigh co 
N Hanover tp Montgom co 
Manheim tp Schuylkill co 
Do do 

'k)Berks co 

Lancaster co 
Cork CO Ireland 
Queens co do 
Campsie co Scotland 
Renfrewshire do 
Kilkenny co Ireland 
Queens co do 
Kilkenny co do 
Oley tp Berks co 

Do do 
Monmouthshire S Wales 
Northumberland co Eng 
Muirkirk Ayrshire Scotland 
Newport R I 

Monmouthire S Wales 
Glamorganshire S Wales 
Carmarthenshire do 
Monmouthshire do 



536 



SUBSCRIBERS NAMES. 



Residence — Weaverstown. Place of Nativity. 

James Atkinson Durham co England 

John Conway Ayrshire Scotland 

James Lightfoot (Otto tract)Staffordshire Potteries Erig 
Lewellen. 



Wm Pugh 
Wm Partridge 
Wm Robson 
Edw Robson 
Joshua Simpkins 
Lelah S Brock 
Wm Robins 

West Wood. 

John Ferrill 
John Nicholas 
Richard Trezise 
John Beacham 
Stephen Carrall 

Mackeysburg. 

Thomas Cowan 
Charles Wesner 

Coal Castle. 

Michael Sandojr 
Michael Sando sr 

Pottsville. 

John H Rohrer 

F B Nichols 

Miss Hannah Maria Kelly 

Isaac T Hedden 

Jabez Sparks 

John Smith 

Isaac C Hopper 

John Johnson 

Joseph Allison jr 

Joseph T Davis 

Daniel Hollen 

Pottsville Library 



Brickonshire England 
Shropshire do 
Sheffield do 

Yorkshire do 

New Jersey 
Orange co N Y 
Northumberland co 



Cornwall co England 

Do do 

Do do 

Somersetshire do 

Galway co Ireland 

Sterlingshire Scotland 
New Jersey 

Devonshire Eng 
Cornwall co do 



Mobile Alabama 
Pottstown Montgomery co 
Womelsdorf Berks co 
Essex CO N J 

Glamorganshire South "Wales 
Barmly Lancastershire Eng 
Hemlock tp Columbia co 
Fifeshire Scotland 
Durham co Eng 
Carmarthenshire S Wales 
Hamburg Berks co 
Founded about 12 years since 



SUBSCRIBERS' NAMES. 



537 



CARBON COUNTY. 



Residence — Mauch Chunk. Place of Nativity. 



John Flick 

Silas Soloman 

Stephen L Connor 

Thomas R Crillin 

Jesse Blair 

Robert H Layre 

Major J H Bishop 

E A Douglass Engineer 

A Lockhart 

John Walton 

Geo W Dodson Teacher 

J T Dodson Esq 

Rev W Bishop 

O H Wheeler Esq 

L D Knowles 

Wm H Butler Esq 

J H Leiwers Teacher 

John Mears 

Wm H Fisher 

Samuel B Hutchison 

Jonathan Fincher 

George Weiss 

A L Foster 

Cornelius Conner 

John Fatzinger Esq 

Hon Asa Packer 

Conrad Miller 

Geo W Masser M D 

Asa R Vannerman 

Justus Gould 

Jno D Thompson M D 

Robert Batler Esq 

Simon Bitting 

William Williams 

Hiram Wolf 



Nothampton co 

Hacketstown N Y 

Duches CO N Y 

Liverpool Eng 

Wilksbarre 

Columbia co 

Easton 

Rensalaer co N Y 

Luzerne co 

Carbon co 

Luzerne co 

Carbon co 

Worcester co Md 

Gahvay N Y 

Columbia co 

Montgomery co Md 

St Johns W Indies 

Philadelphia 

Columbia co 

Northampton co 

Columbia co 

Luzerne co 

Hampshire co Mass 

Catskill N Y 

Allentown Northampton co 

N Loudon co Ct 

Northampton co 

Sunbury Northumberland co 

Mt Bethel Northampton co 

Luzerne co 

Meadham Morris co N J 

Columbia co 

Montgomery co 

Columbia co 

Carbon co 



538 



subscribers' names. 



Residence — Mauch Chunk. Place of Nativity. 



John P Offerman 
Alexander Steadman 
James McGill 
Lewis Stiemagle 
Moses Farray 
Mark Heath 
Richard Blay 
W W Smith 
John Beihge 
Wm Muio 
Jacob S Wallace Esq 
William Butler 
Anemon Klotz 
Joseph Butler 
Nicholas Balliet 
Thomas Sheeker 
Benjamin Hamilton 
Peter Conner 
N M Groover 
James McKeen jr Esq 
Capt Abraham Harris 
Jacob Strauss 
Israel Beahm 
Maj Robert Klotz 
Wm De Frehn 
Hiram Woltinger 
Wm H Jones 
Joseph Collins 
James Lyon 
Joseph Porter 
Wm Moore 
James Moore 
Samuel Hyndman 
Michael Kelly 
Elias Cremer 
Lewis Beer 
Ira Cortright 
Thomas M Drake M D 
Philip Mauk 
Abraham Andres 
George Kriner 



Philadelphia city 

Do do 

Berks co 

Hesse Darmstadt Germany 
Donegal co Ireland 
Hunterdon co N J 
Thames Oxfordshire Eng 
Hunterdon co N J 
Northampton co 
Chester co 
E as ton 
Columbia co 
Carbon co 
Columbia co 
Carbon co 

Do 
Frankford Philada co 
CatskillN Y 
Rutland co Vt 
Atlantic Ocean 
Chestnut Hill Philada co 

Do do 

Northampton co 
Carbon co 

Orwigsburg Schuylkill co 
Monroe co 
New Castle co Del 
Gloucester co N J 
Londonderry co Ireland 

Do do 

Do do 

Do do 

Do do 

Cavan co do 

Trenton N J 
Northampton co 
Luzerne co 

Wyoming Valley Luz co 
Northampton co 
Berks co 
Schuylkill co 



«<4, 



subscribers' names. 



539 



Residence — Mauch Chunk. Place of Nativity. 



Amos Stroll 
Stephen Tuttle 
John Varner 
John Messinger 
Samuel Bogert jr 
Hugh Maser 
Charles Roth 
Jacob Saudel 
John Painter 
Charles Snyder Sheriff 
Josiah Horn 
Lewis D West 
G W Simpson 
George Kisner 
Daniel Olewine 
Abiel Dodson 
Capt Ezra Dodson 
Benjamin Mitchell 
James Line 
Samuel Alden 
Patrick Keely 
Wm Oakey 
Andrew Brown 
Frederick Shobart 
James Savage 
Levi Miner 
John Branden 
N D Cortright 
Abraham Focht 
Jeremiah Andreas 
Stephen Balliett 
John W Pryer 
John Pryer 
Robert Wallace 
Nehemiah Enbody 
George Shadel 
Col John Lentz 
Thomas Boyl 
Michael Farrell 
Timothy Sulivan 
M E Ebert 
Ezeikel Scott 



Columbia co 
Susquehanna co 
Carbon co 
Luzerne co 
Northampton co 

Do 
Salisbury Lehigh co 

Do do 

Sunbury Northumberland co 
Carbon co 

Do 
Chester co 
Philadelphia 
Columbia co 
Carbon co 
Luzerne co 

Do 
Philadelphia co 
Luzerne co 

Do 

Do 
Wyoming co 
Pittston Luz co 
Luzerne co 
Bloomsburg 
Berks co 
Luzerne co 

Do 
Schuylkill co 
Carbon co 

Do 
Beaver co 
Bucks CO 
Easton 

Berwick Columbia co 
Luzerne co 
Lehigh co 
Donegal co Ireland 
Meath co do 
Cork do 

Fort Minden Prussia 
Londonderry Ireland 



540 



subscribers' names. 



Residence — Mauch Chunk. Place of NatiTity. 

George Dink Bairen Germany 

George Knickerbocker Dutchess co N Y 

Josiah White Erskine Haz- "^ 

zard George F A H Brink ! ,, , ^, , 
(the first white man bom ,^^""^^^ ^^"^^ 
in Mauch Chunk) J 

Beaver Meadow. 



Hopkin Thomas 
William Thomas 
Capt A H Vancleve 
W B Wilson 
John Vogle 
Abraham Cool P M 
Abraham T Hunlock 
George H Dougherty jr 
Samuel M Wilson 
R M Stanbury M D 
N R Penrose 
Jacob Horn 
Samuel S Stadan 
Henry Hoover 
Jonas Beltz (Engineer) 
J R Freining 
John Smith sr 
John Johnson 
John Martin 
John Eynon 
Thomas B Daniels 
Evan Phillips 
Jonah Rees 
Jenkins Reynolds 
Rees Leyson 
Wm Thomas 
Thomas Bond 
Stephen Smith 
Terrance Brady 
Michael Brady 
John Beaylis 
Patrick M Hugh 
John Llewellyn 
Wm Watkins 



Glamorganshire S Wales 

Do do 

Hunterdon co N J 
Luzerne co 

Do 

Do 

Do 
Northumberland co 
Nontgomery co 
New York city 
Bucks CO 
Northampton co 
Columbia co 
Montgomery co 
Carbon co 
Bucks CO 
Paris France 
Denmark 

Roscommon co Ireland 
Pembrokeshire S Wales 
Glamorganshire do 
do do 

Swansey do 

Do do 

Brecknockshire do 
Do do 

Near Loutham Warwicks Eng 
S Shields North'd co Eng 
Cavan co Ireland 

Do do 

Monmouthshire S Wales 
Cavan co Ireland 
Monmouthshire S Wales 
Do do 



subscribers' NAMES- 



541 



Residence — Beaver Meadow. Place of Nativity. 



T H McCurley Esq 
A Hamburger Esq 
A McCracken 
Geo Brader 
John J Kinsey 
Ghristian Hess 
Stephen Sybert 
Jonas Battenbender 
Daniel Smith 
Thomas Cawley 
Charles Hains 
Jas Triesbauch (Eng 
Wm Reiley 
Michael Boyle 
John Sherdon 
Patrick MeCarty 
Edward Mulharend 
James Evans 
James Fitzgerald 
Samuel Evans 
John Reed 
John Kearney 
Thomas Haley 
Wm Cumiskey 
John McCarner 
John Reynolds 
Thomas Reynolds 
Richard Williams 
Wm Edwards 
John Watkins 
David Watkins 
Wm Muir 
Robert Preston 
Charles Brittain jr 
Wm Price 
Simon Lutz 
John Lomison 
Patrick Birmingham 
Matthew Donaho 
Thomas Karan 
James Brady 



Milton North'd co 
Bavaria Germany 
L Mt Bethel Northampton co 
Bethelahem tp do 
Easton do 

Moore tp do 

Salem tp Luzerne co 
Nescopeck tp do 
Sugarloaf tp do 
Do do 

Sinking Springs Berks co 
ineer) Easton 

Cavan co Ireland 



Do 
Do 

Kildeayr 
Donegal co 
Monahon co 
Queens co 
Monahan co 
Antrim co 
Mayo CO 
Meath CO 
Longford co 
Monahan co 



do 
do 

do 
do 
do 
do 
do 
do 
do 
do 
do 
do 



Glamorganshire S Wales 

Do do 

Do do 

Carmarthenshire do 
Monmouthshire do 

Do do 

Kilmarnock Ayrshire Scotland 
Yorkshire Eng 
Sussex CO N J 

Plainfield tp Northampton co 
Columbia co 
Easton 

Killdare co Ireland 
Cavan co do 
Do do 

Do do 



542 



subscribers' names. 



Residence — Beaver Meadow. 

Wm McCulloch 
Alexander Mcaa 
Abraham Skelton 
Wm Skelton 
Capt Wm R McKean 
John Totten 
James Long 
James Vaughan 

Hazleton. 
Patrick Reily 
Patrick Higgins 
Michael Garrit 
W A Stubbs P M 
Thomas Wandle 
Lanning Blackwell 
John Shreck 
John Charles 
John W West 
Thomas Vogle 
Abraham Jones 
T Evans (Machinist) 
James James (Engineer) 
Levi Jones 
Jabez Phillips 
Lewis Lewis 
John Roberts 
Thomas Jones 
Owen Gorman (Machinist) 
James Patterson 
Samuel Gordon 
James Hunter 
Robert Boston 
Robert Wray 
A Ketcham 
Wm Frace 
Adam Winters 
Henry Finney 
Adam Stare (Engineer) 
Peter K Snyder 
George Brown 
John W Baylor 



Place of Nativity. 

Limerickshire Scotland 
Douglas Renfrews'r do 
Stafibrdshire England 

Do do 

Philadelphia 

Quaker Valley Carbon co 
Mauch Chunk 
Monmsuthshire S Wales 

West Maid co Ireland 

Londonderry co do 

Mayo CO do 

Huntingdon tp Luzerne co 

Plymouth tp do 

WiJkesbarre do 

Dauphin co 

Northampton co 

Hunterdon co N J 

Monmouthshire S Wales 

Glamorganshire do 
Do do 

Do do 

Do do 

Monmouthshire do 
Do do 

Do do 

Carmarthenshire do 

Monahan co Ireland 

Dumbartonshire Scotland 

Down co Ireland 

Ayrshire Scotland 

Glasgow do 

Newton Cunning'm co Ireland 

Wyoming Valley 

Easton 

Carbon co 

Whitemarsh Montgomery cO' 

Luzerne co 

Montgomery co 

Northampton co 

Boston Mass 



SUBSCRIBERS NAMES. 



543 



Residence — Hazleton. 

Adam Scherer 

Samuel Shingler 

E P Beers (Teacher) 

Wm Henry 

Lewis Blackvvell 

Benediah Pratt 

A B Cook 

Peter Stare jr (Engineer) 

Stephen Oxrider 

Paul Horn 

Conrad Horn Esq 
Summit Hill. 

N Patterson 

Geo H Davis Esq 

James McLean jr 

D P Knowles 

Solomon Brvfogle 

D B Broadhead 

David Ginter 

F Weiss (Gen'l Surveyor) 

Col Thos Broderick 

John Stuart 

George Adams (Teacher) 

Thomas Wilson 

John Yates Paul 

James Moon 

Hugh Boyle 

Jas Broderick 

Charles Hazlett 

John Delay 

John Ryan 

James Denton 

John P Jones 

John Roberts 

Daniel Jones 

Edward Roberts 

David Morgan 

Wm Morgan 

Elijah Williams 

Col Chas Cadogan 

B Rush McConnel M D 



Place of Nativity. 

Bloomsburg Warren co N J 
Sussex CO N J 
Warren co do 
Nescopeck tp Luz co 
Luzerne co 
Columbia co 
Luzerne co 

Do 

Do 
Carbon co 

Do 

Wyoming Valley Luz ca 
Churchtown Lancaster co 
Carbon co 
Columbia co 
Carbon co 
Pike CO 

W Penn Ip Schuylkill co 
Carbon co 

Londonderry Ireland 
Antrim co do 

Kilkenny co do 
Londonderry do 

Do do 

Do do 

Donegal do 

Londonderry co do 

Do do 

Kilkenny co do 

Do do 

New York city 
Flintshire N "Wales 
Carnarvonshire N Wales 

Do do 

Dornbieshire do 

Brecknockshire S Wales 
Glamorganshire do 

Wayne co N Y 
Blakely Gloucester Eag 
Philadelphia 



544 



SUBSCRIBERS NAME3. 



Residence — Summit Hill. 

John Wintersteen 
Rev A G Harned 
Charles Smith 
Wm Fleming 
Michael Leonard 
Hugh Tolan 
Henry McGinley 
Matthew Dougherty 
Wm Ryan 
Patrick Ryan 
James Hamilton 
Wm McHugh 
Edward Brislin 
Timothy McGinty 
Edward Kelly 
James Steel 
Robert Dunlap 
Martin Adams 
Wm Fargey 
Benjamin M;irphy 
Patrick Ripp 
Lesley Delyon 
Joseph Walker 
John Gage 
John Spence 
Robert McCook 
John Clark 
Thomas Allen 
Michael Brady 
Levi Smith 

Nesquehoning. 
Henry Meyers (Teacher) 
Wm J Harlan 
D L Obitz 
Samuel Kcenig 
Francis Swarlz 
Wm Briggs 
Michael Wilhelm 
Holden Chester 
George Zeigenfus 
Elias Henry 



Place of Nativity. 

Sussex CO N J 
Philadelphia 
New York 

Queens county Ireland 

Cavan co do 

Donegal co do 

Do do 

Londonderry co do 

Kilkenny co do 

Do do 

Donegal co do 

Do do 

Do do 

Do do 

Do do 

Antrim co do 

Do do 

Do do 

Tyrone co do 

Dumbo CO do 

Mayo CO do 

Londonderry co do 

Do do 

Do do 

Do do 

Do do 

Do do 

Do do 

Do do 

Lehigh co 

Broome co N Y 
Susquehanna co 
Northampton co 
Carbon co 
Bucks CO 
Columbia co 
Northampton co 
Cumberland co 
Bucks CO 
Schuylkill co 



subscribers' names. 



545 



Residence — Nesquehoniwg. Place of Nativity. 



Jacob Yeager 
John Lewis 
Dennis McEIear 
Thomas Karr 
Andey McCabe 
Edward McDonald 
Patrick Cassady 
Andrew Hand 
Franci? Sweeny 
James McCabe 
Daniel Fisher 
Thomas McKinnes 
George Ratcliff 
George Sherry 
Archer Harris 
Rees Price 
James Codington 
Wm Brad well 
Thomas Miller 
Zarrobabel Thomas 
Samuel Marsden 
John Warwick 
Geo Parlmley 
James Lewis 
John Haj-ris 
David Mathews 
James Llewellyn 
Thomas Prothro 
Herbert Lewis 
Lcyshon Thomas 
Thomas Philip 
Thomas Palmer 
Owen Garraghan 
Michael McDonald 
Philip Dolan 
Luke Farle^r 
Patrick Fitzpatrick 
Hugh Reily 
Robert Brunker 
Terence Dolan 
Patrick McLaughUn 

12 



Lehigh co 

Primrose Hill Schuylkill co 
Londonderry Ireland 
Louth CO do 

Cavau CO do 

Do do 

Do do 

Do do 

Donegal co do 
Monaghan co do 
Donegal co do 
Sterlingshire Scotland 
Nottinghamshire Eng 
Sussex CO N J 
Warren co do 
Monmouthshire S Wales 

Do Eng 

Durham co England 
Sheffield, Yorkshire do 
Monmouthshire do 

Derbyshire do 

Westmoreland co do 
Derham co do 

Brecknockshire S Wales 
Monmouthshire do 
Glamorganshire do 
Carmarthenshire do 
Monmouthshire do 

Do do 

(Welsh Bard) 
Monmouthshire S Wales 
Somersetshire Eng 
Cavan co Ireland 

Do do 

Do do 

Do do 

Do do 

Do do 

Do do 

Do do 

Longford co do 



54<; 



subscribers' NAiMBS. 



Residence — Nesquehoning. Place of Nativity. 



James McGee 
Cornelius Meighen 
Michael O'Hagen 
Francis Dermot 
John Homes 
James Clark 
John Robb 
John Malone 
Robert McCallister 
Mrs Elizabeth Abbot 
Robert Eddie 
Samuel Southall 
Wm Horn 
John McDermitt 
Richard M Hacket 
Charles May- 
Bernard Tarleton 
Richard Pearcel 
James J Heatherby 
John Thomas 
John Rees 
Chas Williams 
Moses Sweazley 

Lehighton. 

Peter Bowman P M 
Jonas Bowman 
Thomas Kemerer 
Nathan Evert 
Charles Patterson 
Charles Keyser M D 
Nathan Clause 
Jonathan Haintz 
Stephen Kistler 
H Morganroth 
Michael Petit 
Geo Rothstein 
Philip But 
Wm H Welsh 
Charles G Bower 
Jacob E Herst 



Donegal co Ireland 

Do do 

Londonderry co do 
Monaghan co do 

Donegal co do 

Louth CO do 

Donegal co do 

Tyrone co do 

Antrim co do 

Derbyshire England 
Ranfrewshire Scotland 
Staffordshire Eng 
New York city 
Orange co N Y 
Coventry city Eng 
Monaghan co Ireland 
Kings CO do 

Maid CO do 

Glasgow Scotland 
Glamorganshire S Wales 

Do do 

Monmouthshire England 
Hunterdon co N J 



Carbon co 
Do 
Do 
Do 

E as ton 

Nevved on the Rhine 

Lehigh CO 

Do 

Do 
Memmelsdorf Germany 
Burlington co N J 
Freedheim Germany 
Stroudsburg Monroe co 
Northampton co 



Union tp Berks co 



SUBSCRIBERS NAMES. 547 



Residence — Mahoning Valley. 


Place of Nativity. 


Alex H C Boyer (Teacher; 


) State of Delaware 


John Derr 


Lehigh co 


Daniel Hontz 


Do 


Jno Horn Esq 


Do 


Joshua Haupt 


Do 


Wm Kemmerer 


Carbon co 


Lewis Hanly 


Do 


Geo Kemmerer 


Do 


A Klotz 


Do 


Daniel J Yost 


Schuylkill co 


Septemus Hough 


Bucks CO 


East Penn Township, Pennsville. 


Jacob Dinkey Esq 


Northampton co 


Rev E August Bauer 


Waybach Germany 


Chas Dinkey P M 


Carbon co 


Oliver Musselman 


Do 


S Balliet 


Lehigh CO 


Isaac Denglar 


Berks CO 


Jacob Heister (West Penn) 


1 Reading 


B Walton (Union Farm) 


Carbon co 


C Hoffman ( do ) 


Bucks CO 


A Balliet (E Penn tp) 


Carbon co 


Parryville. 




John Jarrard 


Warren co N J 


James Anthony P M 


Northampton co 


Wm Anthony 


Do 


Lower Towamensing Township. 


John Bowman 


Carbon co 


Henry Bowman jr 


Do 


Dennis Bowman 


Do 


David Bowman Esq 


Do 


Thomas Stroup 


Do 


Theo Kemmerer 


Do 


Isaac Lower 


Allentown 



Weissport. 

Alex Lentz N W Hall Lehigh co 

Chas C German M D Berks co 

Josiah W Ruch Carbon co 

Daniel Herberling Esq Allen tp Northampton co 
Benj F Klepinger Do do 



548 



SUBSCRIBERS NAMES. 



Residence — Maria Iron Works. 

Saml B Finch Esq 
Godfrey Laury 
Danl Kemmerer 
M Seyfert 
John Boyer 
James Wilson 
Rockport. 

Adam Shoemaker 
Andrew Bernhard 
Nathan Vanhorn 
Thomas Jenkins 
M Gangeware ' 

Jacob McFane 
Jesse Gangeware 
J E Vanhorn 
Obed McMartrie 
Authur Smith 
Michael Carrol 
Conrad Heinser 

Clifton. 

Wm Evans 
Philip Walters 
Joshua D Evans 
John Thomas 
George King 
Jonathan Smitli 
Jas Lomison jr 
Geo W Stackhouse 
Joshua Heil 
Wm Guin 
Hugh Coningham 
Dennis Carroll 
Timothy Duckeran 
Daniel Shafer 
Solomon Washborne 
Samuel Heins 
Edward Herbert 
David Philips 
Jonathan Jones 
James Jenkins 



Place of Nativity. 

Cumberland co 
Lehigh CO 
Monroe co 
Berks co 
Northampton co 
Tyrone co Ireland 

Monroe co 
Northumberland co 
Union tp Luzerne co 

Do do 

Schuylkill co 
Columbia co 
All en town 
Luzerne co 
Warren co N J 
Monaghan co Ireland 
Queens co do 

Germany 

Monraoiuhshire S Wales 
Pembrokeshire do 

Brecknockshire do 

Glamorganshire do 
Glasgow Scotland 
S Shields North'd co Eng 
Luzerne co 
Columbia co 
Carbon co 

Limerick co Ireland 
Loft CO do 

Monaghan co do 
Queens co do 

Northampton co 
Luzerne co 

Do 
Glamorganshire S Wales 
Pembrokeshire do 

Dembighshire N Wales 
Gloucestershire Enc 



SUBSCRIBERS NAMES. 



54,^ 



Residence — Pc-nn Haven. 

Jesse D Cortright 
Amos McNeal 
Andrew McNeal 
Joseph Anderson 
Peter McMaster 

Weatherly. 



Place of Nativity. 

Luzerne co 

Do 

Do 
Down CO Ireland 
Lanarkshire N Britain 



Amos Dodson Esq 
Peter Wildonner 
Stephen Koons 
George Stahr 
Peter Rerick jr 
Solomon Nangesser 
Lafayette Shorlock 
Rice Thomas 
T Williams (Machinist) 

Sugar Loaf Mines, Luzerne County 



Luzerne co 
Do 
Do 
Do 

Lehigh co 
Easton 

Mt Bethel Northampton co 
C41amorgansliire S Wales 
Do do 



Robort Hutchison 

Thomas Weir 

Robert Johnson 

Robert Campbell 

George Campbell 

Isaac Smith 

John English 

Philip Morgan 

James Connel 

Asahel Shipman 

Peter R Dickerson 

Charles Neyer 

Allen Vanhorn 

J Gombar (E Sugar Loaf) 

Huntingdon Township, Luzerne County. 



Renfrewshire Scotland 

Do do 

Dumfrieshire do 
Kilmarnock Ayrshire Scotland 

Do do do 

Wicklow CO Ireland 
Pictore Nova Scotia 
Monmouthshire S Wales 
Sidney Cape Breton 
Morris co N J 
Do do 

Oenabruck Germany 
Columbia co 
Lehigh co 



John Shevely 
H M Schwenk 
Geo Bowman 
Vieivious Dodson 
Nathan Stiles 
E J Earls 
Silas Dodson Esq 
Wm Tverman 



Union co 
Montgomery co 
Columbia co 
Schuylkill co 
Luzerne co 

Do 

Do 

Do 



550 



SUBSCRIBERS' NAMES. 



Residence — Funtingdon, L. co. Place of Natirity. 

Ezra Chapin Luzerne co ' 

Col James Tubbs Do 

B D Koons Do 

John Dodson 2d Do 

Abraham Vanhorn Do 

Nathan Dodson Do 

Jesse Rogers Wilkesbarre 

Daniel Stiles Do 

Wm Betterly Columbia co 

John Yaple Do 

Rev Elias Dodson Northampton co 

John Dodson Esq Do 

Joseph Rhoads Do 

Peter Brink New Jersey 

J Westover Massachusetts 

J Larsh (Fountain Spring) Northampton co 

D Christ (Reading) Reading 

J C Hughes (BigMount'n) Columbia co 

D Williams (Roaring creek)New York 

David Evans do Glamorganshire S Wales 

John D Razor (Cattawissa) Northumberland co 

D S Teets (Monture) Columbia co 

A Love (Bloomsburg) Manor co Ireland 

J M Haycock (Rohrsburg) Columbia co 



C W Partner do 

J McClure do 

J H Heslet (Adison) 
Wm Johnson do 
Reuben Mavis (Wash'ton) 
J Heberling (Cridersville) 
J Fetter (Sugar Loaf) 



Sussex N J 
Luzerne co 
Columbia co 

Do 
Northampton co 

Do 
Schuylkill ^o 



^subscribers' names. 



551 



NORTHAMPTON COUNTY. 

Easton and South Easton. 



Rev John P Hecht 

" J Gray 

" Thomas Pomp 

*' M M Everts 

" H Brady 

" WKlmg 

" P Coombe 
G Hess jr (Judge) 
Jno P B Sloan M D 
James Gaynor Orwigsburg 

Landing Schuylkill co 
G Saylor 
John Dickson 
Chas Innes M D 
H D Maxwell > 
John Randolph 
Wm B Howell 
Sylvester Stout 
John Abel jr 
Wm I) Houser 
J M D Riley 
M S Henry 
P F B Schmid 
H E Wolf 
L F Stem 

Andrew Trittenbach 
Levi Reppert 
J J Horn 
Wm J Rothrock 
John Odenwelder 
James Berger 
D Hulick 
H S Caney 
Chas Coburn jr 
Charles Osterstock 
John Rodenbach 
ARK Wagner 
Jacob Mosure 
John Bachman 
H A Hineline 



T R Sitgreaves 
F Emick 
H W Smith 
Hugh Tolane 
J B Bowman 
Geo Widener 
Wm Hamman 
John Kessler 
Joseph Hutt 
A Stout M D 
Reuben Mann 
John Johnson 
Robt Beidelman 
Wm Rush 
Charles Nicholas 
Augustus GnorhoU 
Danl Wagenor 
Wm M Burke 
Francis Ludwig 
Henry Brotzman 
Peter Beskirk 
Jno Cottingham 
Aaron Schooley 
Francis Shock 
Reuben Lamb 
John Mason 
A H Senseman 
S L Rodenbough 
Thaddeus Schoch 
A R Kram 
G P Hilbeit 
Jacob Grube 
M E Weaver 
N H Miller 
Ross Ihrie 
Saml Slaboch 
Peter Donerle 
J Bornmann 
R P Seals 
John Harter 



553 



SUBSCRIBERS NAMES. 



Henry Werkheiser 

Peter liiintz 

Peter Searfoss 

Nathan Swartz 

Alexantler Vogel 

Conrad Hummel 

Reuben L Lerch 

Saml S Bogart 

John J Kolb 

Rev J H A Bomberger 

Henry Harrison 

Edw W Rothtrock 

Wm C Thorn 

Jacob Odenwelder 

Adolph Grotzinger 

Eli Mettler 

Jacob Dochroat 

John Y Edelmau 

G W VVoodring 

Peter Slyden 

Thomas Bishop 

John Maclackioii 

Owen W Hess 

John Luckenbach 

George Bach man 

David Trozell 

George Vogle 

Solomon Derr 

F Sanderson 

Joseph Keller 

Hiram Hulsizer 

Henry Rowth 

Geo Daly 

Aaron Davis 

Wm McLeowen 

C R Andre (Columbia co) 

John H Patrick 

Thos Dempsey 

Joseph Mclntyre 

John Down 

D J Carey 

David Kclt>oc 

Joseph Carpenter 

Imniauucl Thumc 



Richard Stillwell 

Saml H Hay 

Robert P Lerhs 

James Sieger 

Jacob Young 

Adam Hartzell 

Wm Prind 

Jesse Moser 

John Kindt ^- " 

Isaac Moser 

Gershom Goble 

Abm Bellesfield 

Philip Pupp 

Jacob Bunstein 

Simon Lattig 

Henry Fenical 

Wm Fitz Randolph 

Washington Stout 

A F Randolph 

Washington Henry 

Uriah W Carroll 

Edwin Sitgreaves 

Jacob Noll 

Geo Thornton 

Joseph Metzger 

Wm H Troxell 

John P Heckman 

Samuel Grotz 

Rev Geo Diehl 

John S P Foust 

John J Marbacher 

Godfrey Fishier 

John Quinn 

Henry Garman 

Nelson Hoyt 

Jas Dinky 

Joseph A Weaver 

Richard Taylor 

Philip Platz 

James McKeen 

Wasliington S Seagreaves 

Moses Wilhelm 

Daniel Laubach 

Isaac Zanc 



Sl^BSCRIBKHS NAMES. 



65$ 



David Shorti 
Charles L Richard 
Geo Fiuley 
Robert S Lodo 
Wm S Brown 
Solon Stout 
Charles Weidknecht 
Albert Black 
Joseph Miller 
Henry McCullough 
S Bogart 
Rodrock Wolfler 
Zenos S Ward 
Benjamin Botte 
J M Wilson 
Wm Abel 
C H Williams 
D Zinn 

Peter McCartv 
Peter T Roe " 
Henry Kline 
Georg-e Mitchell 
Wra L Roberts 
Wm Rex 
John Laubach 
Andrew Lamprett 
Val Brotzraan 
John Beam 
AaroJi Palmer 
Henry W Cypher* 
Benj Hidel 
Charles Otto 
Henry Hawk 
R C Robbins 
Philip Boce 
Adam C Horn 
Peter SmuU 
Altimus Rahl or Rake 
Wm Shick 
John S Able 
Robt Ferguson 
Geo G Zane 
G Thompson 



J2 



Evan Slough 
Henry Duffin 
W' m Deiler 
Jacob Wilhelm 
Fredk Schelling 
Thomas Harkiu 
Joseph Waltman 
P Odenwelder jr 
Richard M Zink 
Peter R Lovell 
Saml Stewart 
Geo W Leders 
Amos Rogers 
Wm E Davis 
John Pike 
Joseph Coiigue 
Saml Deiley 
David Joseph 
Jonas Heller 
Robt Petit 
George Getz jr 
Elias Hope 
Quintus Lerch 
James Petit 
Francis Sigmau 
Charles Zink 
S W Nolton 
Ambrose Bitchen 
Jo hn Kelly 
Abraham Troxell 
James Hilton 
•W Firmstone 
E Pockwell 
Peter Snyder 
George Maddock 
Jos W Moore 
Jacob Mourer • 
Samuel Brown 
Wm Raub 
Peter Harry 
Arthur Simon 
Joseph Snyder 
Jacob Moscr jr 



554 SUBSCRIBERS NAMES. 


♦ 




Wm Buck 


David More 


Reuben Clewell 


Elijah P Knox 


Chas Leors 


Peter S Bray 


Jacob Stansbury 


Elias Drumborle 


Aaron Yost 


Wm Daily 


Peter Walter 


Adam Trumbore 


Joseph RusseS 


E S Bott 


Boyd Young 


John Leida 


Win Lippincolt 


Joseph Widerfeh 


Peter Garble 


C Frye 


Marris Adler 


Stephen Skelton 


Isaac W Bishop 


Michael Butz 


Isaac Stiles 


Charles Ji Stout 


John Lantz 


J J Bower 


Wm Moser 


David Moser 


Robert Vincent 


Matthew Morrison 


Wm Mulvany 


Alexander Troxell 


Patrick Collins 


Jacob Keiter 


Patrick Smith 


Josiah Hahnz 


Thomas Lewis 


Wm Eichman 


Edmond Keller 


Charles Barron 


Peter Brown 


Jeremiah Phillips 


John Slatterv 


Andrew Hester 


JohnNolf 


A R Savitz 


Henry Say lor 


Amos B Rohr 


Philip Garis 


John W Larrow 


Frederick Seller 


Joseph Herster 


Joseph Morris 


John Oliver 


Danl W Buiz 


David Apple 




Bethlehem. 


Rev Samuel Reinke 


Adam Walter 


T Rapp 


Charles D Bishop 


Rev H A Shultz 


Jacob Lukenbach 


Augustus Wolle 


L J Krause 


Jacob Wolle 


Henry Smith 


L Tombler 


Wm Ritter 


Matthew Ghrist 


Levin Hunsicker 


D H Bishop 


James Schwitzer 


Julius W Hele 


Henry S Sellers 


J F Borhek 


Anthony Cole 


Christian Long 


Philip W Bealer 


Caleb Yohe 


Isaac S Wolle 


Henry P Asborna 


M B Van Buren 


W A JacobsOH 


Valentine Kent 



SUBSCRIBKRS 5IAMES. 



htb 



John C Weber 
John Sigley 
Henry Knecht 
J E Knauss 
Henry Bonrquiii 
Charles Doll 

Bethlehem 
John Dainey 

H Myers Esq White Cabin 
Isaac Sailer M D 
Wm Meyer 
Michael Engler 
Andrew Reinheimer 
George Oberly 
"W Hope 
F Frankeniield 
Aaron Lambert 
Wm H Clouse 
John Miller 
Jacob Hess 
Saml C Shinier 
Herman Ruetle 
Owen Ritter 



Leonard Walter 
Philip Brotzman 
Jacob Keller jr 
David Dimmig 
Levi K Stem 
Joseph W^eaver 
Wm H Robbing 
Peter Uhler 
John Riiglc 
David Transue 
Maria Ledes 
Jacob B Fox 
O Donly 
Jacob Brotzman 
John Bower 
Orson McConnell 
Pliilip Russel 
Jacob Rodenhach 
I-snac. Stover 



Philip H Goepp 
Wm Wentzel 
Joseph Moll 
Chas F Beckel 
Charles Schneller 
James Jacoby 
Township. 
Charles Hess 
B F Ritter 
Philip Ohl 
Isaac Ritter 
Charles Anthony 
Stephen Young 
Barnet Odenwelder 
Isaac L Miller 
Joseph Burk 
A Trensue 
Abraham B Shimer 
George Jones 
Edward Queer 
Jos Unangst 
George Levers 



Williams Township. 

Franklin Shimer 
Wm Eckert 
Reuben R Richards 
Wm Stem 
Wm J Stocker 
Peter Rockafellor 
Dennis Reileys 
Wm II Henderson 
Daniel Woodring 
S Stover 
Saml P Unangst 
Philip Sherrer 
David Bachmau 
Samuel Arndt 
Wm Deemer 
Luther Calvin 
John Kict'er 
Thcudore F llixson 
Israel Horn 



556 



SUBSCRIBERS* WAMBS. 



Isaac Stout Esq 
Jacob Weiant 
Isaac L Shimer 
Joseph S Hartman 

Capt Thomas W hy 
Thomas T Jaeger 
Geo How 
Peter Kohler 
A D Cortright 
Jacob Geisinger 
Joseph Long 
John B VVarch 
William Gwinner 
Philip Ocks 

George Shiraer 
John Knecht 
Daniel Kramer 
Benjamin Knecht 
Reuben Miller 



H M Mutchler 
Jacob Odenwelder 
John Richard 
Michael Hahn 
Philip Brotzman 
Wm Bacum 
Charles Warch 
George Mitchler 
Jacob Seip jr 
Benj F Stecher 
Ebenezer Werkheiser 
Joseph Kinsey 
Jacob Lear 
Rinal Damoser 
Aaron P Major 
Charles Tidd 
Enoch G Norton 
Stephen Dorhammer 
Edw Lerch 
John Osterstock 
Thomas Yeager 



Isaac Begley 
Isaac Transus 
John Koplin 

Freemansburg. 
nu Abraham Deitz 

Aaron Coleman 
Henry Schweitser 
Sarah Schweitzer 
Daniel Schlabach 
Joseph Lesher 
B Kemmerer Esq 
David Eckar 
Charles Schick 

Shimersville. 

Cornelius Brunner 
Wm H Bachman 
Herod Miller 
John Osterstock Butstown 
John A Gross 
Forks Township. 

John Hilyard 
Philip Hile 
Samuel Leip 
Philip Miller 
Wm Bower 
Peter Correll 
AiTondus Paul 
Joseph Mover 
Henry Bleybe 
John H Butz 
Jacob H inkle 
John McCauly 
John Eckert 
Charles Bellerfield 
J P WiUauer 
Reuben Deemer 
John Rinker 
Thomas Lerch 
Jeremiah J Weber 
John M Lerch 
David Weinerg 



subscribers' names. 



557 



Peter Messenger 
John Fraunfelder 
Henry J- Messenger 
Martin A Seiple 
Jeremiah Werkheiser 
Wm Kotz 
Philip H Schoch 

Upper and Lower Nazareth Townships. 



Jacob & E Abel 

J Weaver 

John Wilson Plainfield 

J B Illick 

Jaines Searle Esq 

Thomas Uhler 



Geo Schlabach 
Chas B Hober P M 
Rev L TReichel 
Daniel Reigel 
John C Warner 
Adam Daniel 
Owen Dash 
C Senseman 
Ciias Vandermark 
Christian Bruner 
Jacob T Beck 
Christian D Basse 
Owen Hillman 
David F Michael 
Christian Musselman 
Henr)' J Vanvleck 



Charles L Whilese' 
Sidney VV Bureaw 
F W knaviss 
Samuel Smith 
Rev G A Wenzel 
G A SchoU M D 
Arthur Ritter 
Jacob Booiem 
Geo Heleck 
Jacob Sheffler 
Thomas Desh 
John Wind 
Amandns Heinly 
Jacob B Shimer 
Richard Clewell 
John Wood ring 



Henry Clewell 

Saucon and Lower Saucon Townships. 



AVm Riegel 
Herman M Fetter 
Henry Desh 
Aaron F Housekeeper 
Joseph F Landes 
Wm Wagoner 
Robert Stiller 
Jno AV Mast 
Christian H Bellig 
Sidney S Schneller 
Daniel Queer 
Samuel Hess 
Nelson Shaffer 
David Warner 
C B Heller 
Chas Detwiler 
Reuben Lynn 



Tobias Bentzheimer 
Jacob Keller 
Peter Heft 
Jacob Hartman 
David Riegel 
John Tice 
Franklin Pearson 
David Lerch 
Levi Beahm 
Joseph Fuehrer 
Thos D Luckenbacli jr 
George Riegel 
John Applegate 
Abraham Shimer 
Henry Unangst 
J R Cawley 
Jesse Laubach 



55$ 



SUBSCRIBKUS NAMES. 



Geo Shively 
Peter Lercli 
John Ruch 
Joseph Lerch 
Christian Ruch 
Peter Weaver 
Wm Smith 
Jacob Kichline 
Thomas Kichline 
Joseph H Boyer 
\Vm Eddinger 

Allen, and East 

A Fiichs 

J O Tiichtenwahier 
Augustus H Gilbert 
David Santee 
Samuel Laubach 
Samuel Hoffman 
Joim Nagel 
Thomas II Becker 
Solomon Steckel 
Charles L Keck 
John Snyder 
Israel Steckel 
John Swaitz 
Stephen Kleppinger 
Stephen Anewolt 
Ambrose Wesner 
John Lerch jr 
John C Meixsell 
Edward Eckert 
Reuben J Cole 
J C Becker D D 
George Ilawer 
Jacob J Boyer 
Geo Audennich 
Oliver F Rodrock 
T H Howell 
Geo Sherer 
Jacob Baer 
I) Miller 
Conrad I/nrch 
John Milh-r 



R H Laubach 
L H Laubach 
Chas W Criedler • 
Isaac Scheimer 
John Rise 
John Deihl 
Chas W Bachman 
Charles Christman 
Solomon Baudere 
Jesse Getler 
John Trehr 
and West Allen Townships. 
Wm Keiper 
Samuel Hess 
Thomas J Rothrock 
George Engler 
Elizabeth Schwaitz 
John Engler 
Jesse Brown 
Jonas Lichtenvvalner 
Charles Gross 
John H Humphrey 
Matthias Snyder 
Charles Person 
F W Nagel 
Thomas Hemphill 
James How 
John Heintz 
Charles Nolf 
Isaac Miller 
Isaac H Baker 
Thomas Clendenen 
Stephen Hauser 
James Hubler 
.Joseph Schmick 
Wm Brown 
Joha Whitesell 
Benjamin Whitesell 
Wm Deck 
.Tames Kennedy 
.lesse Fritchman 
,Tohn Odenwelder 
John Weavrr jr 



SUBSCRIBERS Ni.MES. 



SS9 



Aaron Shivel 
Samuel Meninger 
David llerstley 
John A C Kromer 
Leslie Miller 
Daniel Siegfried 
Charles Kromer 
David Fretz 
Joseph I<aubach 

Geo Frederick 
Samuel Tenicle 
James L Ffluger 
Wm Clewell 
Solomon Heller 
Francis Huber 
Abraham Huber 
Gen Conrad Shimer 
Henry Fry 
Wm Jacoby 
Daniel Whitesell 

Upper 
Charles Sandt 
Wm Brittain 
David Howell 
James McFall 
Thos N Middagh 
George S tocher 
Aaron D Vannatta 
Elias Shull 
Daniel H Snyder 
Thomas Middaga 
Peter Laux 
Jacob Baker Esq 
Elizabeth Shimer 
John Rohn 
David W West 
George Loder 
Edward Shimer 
John Kern 
Joseph Bowman 
James G Loder 



John Smock 
Abraham George 
Joseph Harner 
James R Blair 
Wm Wilson 
Daniel Heckman 
Thomas Craig 
Samuel Snyder 
Joseph Laubach 

Hanover Township. 

John McCUclland 
Robert Eclntyre 
Reuben Schortz 
Aaron Lynn 
David Oden welder 
Lewis Lawall 
Andrew Walter 
E Miller 
Augustus Goetz 
John Knauss 
Peter Ritter Esq 

and Lower Mount Bethel. 

Joseph S Snvder 
Wm Fell 
Johile Kitchen 
Samuel Snyder 
Clinton Batholmey 
Abraham Neigh 
Joseph Dunfield 
Rudolph ShilTer 
Samuel Taylor 
Michael Weller 
John Hagerman 
Derick Aten 
Philip Eillenberger 
Henry Smith 
Jeremiah S Troxell 
John R Aten 
N Best 
Geo Jacoby 
Lewis W Everitt 
Wm PDatesman 



.580 



eUBSCBIBKRS NAMSS. 



Moses Bush 
Joseph Smith 
Barnet Wilson 
Peter Derr 
Robert iMiller 
Percyrus Heitzman 
David Ayer 
John Reed 
Philip Gross 
Elisha Aten 
G W Gross 
Jacob Kiefer 
Jesse Ink 
Stewart Thomas 
Joseph Heller 
R M Bell M D 
Rev A Tully 
George Troxell 
Rev A S Young 
Robert E James M D 
Joseph Stahly 
Joseph Correll 
Jesse Reichard 
John Klinefelter 
Aaron Hess 
Rev M H Sisty 
Richard Camden 
Isaac Smith 
Jacob Krone 
Matthias C Hay 
J D Deiterich 
Benj Ziegler 
John A Long 
D B Hazen 
Martin L Malone 
George Fruttches 
Reuben Stem 
Jacob Hineline 
Benj Smith 
Daniel Weidman 
Wm Warner 
Jesse Gibbs 
Sannuel G Lobar 



VVm Smith 
Philip Smith 
Fred E Smith 
Henry Dildine 
Theodore L Eilenberger 
Elizabeth Schooley 
Abram Smell 
Henry Hester 
Henry Ecker 
Morris Mann 
David Wack 
Henry Hartzell 
Jacob Smith 
Ferdinand Ihrie 
John Deiohman M D 
P W McFall 
John McFall 
C W Smith 
Abraham Shimer 
Peter W Plotts 
Thomas McFall jr 
Thomas McFall 
Peter Oblinger 
Jeremiah Rockfellar 
Chas W Rodenbaugh 
Anthony Kitchledge 
Daniel M C Neel 
Enos Houck 
Samuel Gulick 
Jacob Horn 
Wm M Miller 
John Reagle 
John Baird 
James Baird 
Edward Shoemaker* 
Wm McCuUough 
Conrad S Taylor 
Peter Horn 
Abraham Depree 
John Cressman jr 
Moses Ayres sr 
Joseph G Ross 
Moses Ayres jr 



SUBSCRIBERS NAMES. 



561 



Will Wise 
Charles Kennedy 
Wm Fox 
David Coffin 
Jacob Evans 
James Cortright 
Hugh Williams 
Wm L Staples 
Wm W McNeel 
Wilson Labar 
Samuel Pipher 
Joseph L Streppy 
John Pipher 
Cornelius Bogert 
Isaac Bird 
Wm Haughawout 
Wm Coffin 



Moore 



Joseph Kleckner 

George Nagel M D 

James Shall 

Aaron Steckel 

Jacob Shall 

S M Miller Esq 

Peter & Thomas Schall 

Lehigh 
Pricila Klepinger 
Catharine Klepinger 
Samuel Klepinger 
Jeremiah Schott 
Michael Vogel 
C N Humphreys M D 
Edward F Driesbach 
Jno J Houer Esq 
Col Adam Hower 
Samuel Benner 
Reuben Smith 
Abm Lerch 
Geo W Heiney 
Christian Bilheimer 
Reuben Bechey 
David Newhart 

K2 



Abraham Beck 

Theodore Dunbar 

Lydia V Gaston 

George Hummer 

Jacob Hauck 

George Snyder 

Valentine Albert 

John Flick 

Philip Scharer 

John Albert sr 

Adam Utt 

Jesse Darrohn 

Jeremiah Nigh 

Michael Cressman 

Wm H Speer 

Jacob Sibel 

John Meyers 
Township. 

Andrew Berger 

Christian N Hoffman 

C Schott & Peter Laub 

S J Berger 

Samuel Seem 

M H Snyder 

Abraham J Cressman 
Township 

Wm Mummey 

Adam Berlin 
'Wm Berlin 

Abraham Gish Esq 

Daniel Gable 

Wm Roberts 

John Benninger 

Stephen Mummey 

Charles Beslin 

Wm App 

Wm Siegfried 

John Newhart 

Julia Ann Hanlev 

WmW Smith 

Thomas Nagel 

Samuel Berlin 



562 



SUBSCRIBERS NAMES. 



Gotleib Steily 
Solomon Bachman 
Reuben Keller 
Robert Anthony 
Stephen Anthony 

Joseph Bassart 
Enos Lehr 
John Weaver 
Timothy Slots - - 
Edmund H Keller 
Jacob S Heller 
Thomas Gold Bashkill 
Jacob P Miller Do 
J Cope Esq Do 

J A Edmonds Esq Do 



Levi Went 
James Steward 
Conrad Bachman 
David Kleppinger 

Plainfield. 

G M Lockwood Greenwich 
Adam Deihl Monroe co 
Dennis Galvin Do 
Jona Fetherman Do 
Jonas Kintner Do 
Calvin Hauser Do 
John Wagner Do 
Wm Craig New York 
J B Hower M D Lancaster 



LEHIGH COUNTY. 



Allentown. 



John Royer (printer) 

R E Wright 

Henry Keiper 

James M Wilson (printer) 

Geo W Stein 

Aaron Troxell 

Rev Richard Walker 

John D Stiles 

John Wagner 

Nelson Weiser 

Henry F Nagle 

Charles Gangwer 

Simon Miller 

H C Longnecker 

C L Martin M D 

J F Newhard 

A G Renninger 

E R Newhard 



Wm H Newhard 
Joshua Hause 
Edward Keen 
Henry Weinshimer 
fi Fischel 
Hiram Brobst 
Benjamin Brobst 
Henry Leh 
John Grass 
Daniel Martz 
Fillman Smith 
John Nonnemaker 
C J Gibbons 
John Hufferd 
Jacob Albright 
Jacob Nagle 
Thomas Seip 
Levi Stahr 



SUBSCRIBERS NAMES. 



£63 



Charles S Massey 

Wm H Blumer 

Herman Riipp Fogelsville 



Solomon Fogle 
Willoughby Fogle 
James L Selfridge 
Thomas C Kramer 
Frs E Samuels 
C H Martin M D 
Alexander Miller 
A Ziegenfuss 
Nathan Miller 
Samuel A Bridffes 



Do 
Do 



Geo J Ginkinger 
Ephraim Lester 
Tilghman Statler 
Peter Seagreaves 
Thomas Newhard 
Wm H Ballot 
Abraham Gangewere 
Daniel Fatzinger 
Thomas Gangewere 
Levi H Gross 
Chas Kettle, S Whitehall 
Peter H Keiser Do 
John Spiner, S Allentown 



Jos E Strasbuiger 


Wm Kichline 


Do 


Chas L Ginkinger 


Charles Kline 


Do 


Henry King Esq 


Solomon Dubbs 


Do 


Christian Pretz 


Thilman Smith 


Do 


Philip Slellwagen 


Millerstown. 




Elias Dlehl 


Charles Bernhart 




Luke Griffin Naughton 


IsraeJ. Yingling 




Dr Lesher Trexler 


James Chrislman 




Aaron Erdraan 


Solomon Wesco 




Jonas Wesco 


John N Wesco 




Thomas Eisenhart 


ChasE Hoffman 


MD 


Col Harrison Miller 


Jonas Christman 




Thilman Kienly 






Hanover Tov?nship. 




John Osman 


Samuel Breder 




Jacob Reighart 


Jesse Kidd 




Jonathan Ott 


George Kurtz 




George Laubach 


Joseph Kidd 




John Laubach 


John Moyer 




J Paul 


Charles Holver 




Henry Seller 


Franklin Ritter 




Joseph Seider 


Manasses Quier 




Samuel Koshler 


Isaac Hease 




Adam H Shearer 


Charles Quier 




Wm Rohn 


John Yotter 




Asia Rohn 


Samuel Knause 




Henry Kurtz 


Calvin Cahoon 




Robert Oberly 


Charles Ritter Esq 



564 



SUBSCRIBERS NAMES. 



Andrew Frankenfield 
Edward Dewalt 
C Lewis Kidd 
Wm Daniel 
Samuel Saylor Esq 
Charles Kidd 
Daniel Zellner 
Joseph Dewald 
James Ray- 
Henry Hoch 
Garman Texter 
Wm Wind 
Peter Kelchner 
Adam Fartzinger 
George Koch 
John Kidd 
Joseph Lichtenwalter 



David Thomas 
Margaret E Meeker 
Wm Cunningham 
Henry F Kildare 
Wm Neighly 
Solomon Schwab 
David A Tompler 
George Grotz 
Levi Toby 
Charles Demey 
John Mclntyre 
Robert Campbell 

A E McCarty 
David J Yerks 



Wm Moyer 
Isaac Beidler 
Owen Swartz 
Solomon Floras 
Jonas Albright 
Christian Nagle 
Jacob Bast 
Daniel Frey 
Emanuel Trexler 
John Andre 
Valentine C later 
Samuel Roth 
Wm Osman 
John Sassaman 
Tilghman Clymer 
Peter Newhart 
Edward Mall 
Crane Iron Works. 

Morgan Emanuel 
Esau Evan 
Martin Simons 
Aaron Bast 
James Lackey 
John Johnson 
David D Walter 
Joseph Weikle 
Jonathan Snyder 
Alexander Demey 
George Doherty 
Charles Sigeley 
South Bethlehem. 

Henry Van Dyke 
Copeland Boyd 
Upper Saucon Township. 



Hermer L Stadiger 
Edward Engleman 
Philip Person Esq 
Charles B Weber 
Charles Witman 



Daniel P Meyers 
Samuel Moyer jr 
Daniel Berger 
Aaron Thompson 
John Stahler 



subscribers' names. 



565 



Charles Seider 
Able M Evans 
Thomas B Cooper 
Abraham Wimmer 
A K Witman Esq 
George Koch 

Philip B Lerch 
John G Bruner 
Charles Derr - 
Joshua Fry 
William Walp 
Peter Frank 
Jacob Erdman Esq 
Jacob Moeder 
James Reinhard 
Samuel feeider 
Edward F Reinhard 
Jacob Schmyer 
Charles Weaver 
G E Horlocher 
Amos R Heller 



Coopersburg. 

Simon Frankenfield*' 
Aaron M Laros 
M D Esekiuh Gerhard 

Wm Trippe Cramer 
Elias Home 
Nelson Delang 
Saucon Valley. 

Jacob J Weberoth jr Jacob Eisenhart 
Jacob G Appel 



Abm B Hillegass 
Abner H Wind 
N H Weigner 
C E Christ Esq 
Wm F Smith 
Daniel Schneider 
G B Riiter 
Wiminer Sf Heller 
(Solomon Mory 
Fredk Schmidt 
Elias Eshbach 
A F Halbach 
Peter Daniel 



Jonathan Koch 
Nathan Grim 
Reuben Landis 
John Nase 
Ephraim Geisinge- 
Danl Erdman 
Jos Witman 
Solomon Ohl 
Abm Romig 
D Desh, L Saucon 
A Benner Do 
C Seider Do 



J D Lowell Esq 
C F Shulty M D 
H K Fisher 
John J Giering Esq 
G Ziegenfuss jr 
Jacob KnaufF 
Rev J T Becler 
Paul Keck 
Peter Kline jr 
Solomon Bener 
Daniel Kline jr 
Charles Deshler 

Israel Wesco 
E C Faust 
J Kemmerer Esq 
Reuben Mink 
Philip Schmeyer 
Thilman Baumer 
Charles Klutz 
B D Hiskey 
J Schonkweiler 
Dr Stephen Bright 
C H tShumakcr 



Salisbury Township 
John Appel 
R Kemmerer 
Edwin Kline 
John Heinly 
Wm Jacoby 
John Hottensteia 
John Roth 
Jos Hoffard 
John Spiner 
James -Spiner 
Robert Yost 
Peter Werner 
Lower Macungie Township. 

James Wener I Dieffenderfer 



Reuben Markle 
Charles Schneider 
C Geisinger 
Clarissa Geisinger 
Wm Diehl 
George Deily 
John Schwenk 
John Yost 
E B Horlacher 
HASchoU 
(Samuel James 
Robt B Moyer 



Nathan Shaeffer 
Wm Jacoby 
Conrad Sam 
Alwin Acker 
Peter Romig 
Leah Schuter 
S F Keck 
John S Borger 
J Horlacher 
Hannah W Knipe 



Henry Bear 
John Kerchner 
Henry S Bair 
T Marsteller 
Jacob Gaunter 
Val G Weaver 
George Ludwig 
Manasses Bulz 
Aaron Butz 
Nathan Wolvert 



566 



SUBSCKIBERS NAMES. 



Jonathan Stephea 
Chas .S'orber Esq 
Geo T Roeter 
Milton Wint 
Charles Foster 
Isaac Leiby 
Wm Schmej'er 

Jonas Weber 
John Rupp 
rS Liehtenwalner 
Wm Mohr ' 
Sol Stetler 
Henry Stetler 



Edw Difl'enderfer 
John B Schmeyer 
Jacob Wagner 
L B Mohr 
John Mohr 
Jona Schmeyer 
Samuel Schmeyer 



Jacob Romig jr 
Henry' Yeager 
A Romig 
J B Schmeyer 
Aaron S Schmeyer 
Chas Martz 
Joshua Leip 



Upper Macungie Township. 



Geo Steininger 
Chas Stahlnecker 
Thos Shaffer 
Jonathan Ktinkel 
Reuben Krebs 



Paul Hommel 
Thos Schnarr 
B Yoder 
Wm M Kudy 
H S Becker 



Tilghraan Schneider Wm Haintz 



OW Faust &MDiehl Jos Delonj 



Daniel Kuntz 
Samuel Kuntz 
Jeremiah Kuntz 
Jonathan Stetler 
Even Guth 
Peter Oertie 
S Liehtenwalner 
Wm Mink 
Benj Gernerd 
Charles Braus 

J I Breinig 

Dr D Mosser 

A Erdinan 

C Lichtenwallner 

John Merney 

Henry Schantz 
Thomas Faust 
Edw Martz 
Joshua Butz 
John H Bernd 
Wm K Knauss 
Daniel Knauss 
Daniel Ludwig 
Wm L Saros 
Chas Good 
James Jordan 
S Griesemer'jr 
Saml Butz 
John Beiry 
E Wenner 
Jos S Gerrard 



Danl Schlauch 
Reuben Kuntz 
Benjamin Rupp 
Herina Kaul 
J Gachenbach 
Mary A Scheaffer 
Richard Siaw 
Amos Reinard 
J Geissinger 
H J Schantz 

Breinigsville. 
Reuben Meitzler 
Jonas Trexler 
Danl Miller 
Chas Keisser 
A G Gilkyson 
South Whitehall Township. 



Lucus Sassaman 
John Albright jr 
C W Gebhard 
Wm K Mosser 
Jacob Hummel 
John R Schall 
T J Hoffman 
Benj Haintz 
C L Mohr, near 

Coopersburg. 



T C Breinig 

H Schoil, Foglesville 

FB Martin MD do 



J P Miller 
Nathan Mohr 



do 
do 



John Scherer 
Chas Kichline 
Henry Newhard 
Robert Steckel 
John Diefenderfer 
Thos Brader 
Geo Brung 
David Sterner 
J Diefenderfer 
Jesse Marck 
Jesse Acker 
M Newhard 
Chas Ringer 
Henry Shordt sr 
Henry Shordt jr 
Danl iSchneider 



Morgan Roth 
Joseph Kern 
John Troxell 
Wm Leinberger 
John Minich 
John Sleifer 
Aaron Kepp 
D Kerschner 
S Leinberger 
Simon Keck 
E Strauss 
John Sheatz 
N Krause 
Daniel App 
Simon Moyer 
Charles Gross 



SUBSCRIBERS NAMES. 



567 



J Troxell Esq 
Jonas Reinard 
Peter Guth 
Jos Guth 
Danl Hoffman 
T Woodring 
J Schneider 
L Litzenbergei' 
A Wartman 
Mary & S Shindel 
J Eisenhart Esq 
James Hittle 
A Butterwick 
J Heninger 
Peter B Seltzer 
Gideon Guth 
Wm Wenner 
H W Steinberger 
Josiah Strauss 
Manasses Guth 
Robert Steen 

Peter Hoffman 
Edw Sheckler 
J Burns Jnrdine 
Eli Steckel 
J G Deshler 
Aaron Kohler 
Peter Kern jr 
Benj Breinig 
Thos Ruch 
Rev J S Dubs 
F Smith 
JohnSchantz jr 
Paul Balliet 
Adolph Bicking 
James Camron 



Thos Troxell 
Caroline Troxell 
Eliza Ann Troxell 
Danl Tro.xsU 
Peter Roth 
Joseph Huber 
Henry Strauss 
Kosmus Scott 
Thos Wickert 
Chaf Wenner 
Nathan Eiery 
Peter Troxell 
A Kerschner 
Danl Beisel 
Henry Guth jr 
Aaron Schifert 
Stephen Leh 
Owen Kern 
John Kern 
J J Wilson MD 
E B Clauss 



Maj Danl Moyer 
Conrad Meyer 
Wm Gross 
Jacob Mickley 
Daniel Roth 
Henry Schneider 
Chas Melhern 
Chas More 
F B Bulz 
Reuben Grafty 
Mathews Behl 
Aaron Kachline 
H Patterson 
Edw Clark 
David Biery 
David Yoder 
S Kern merer 
Chas Troxell 
PeterDeshler 
John Strauss 



North Whitehall Tovmship. 

Chas Seager E Gangwer 

Jacob Frantz 

Johu Koch 

Robert McDowell 

Simon Kemmerer 

Godfrey Peter 

Danl Seager Esq 

Reuben Seager 

Wm Neihard 

W F Hoffman M D 

H O Wilson M D 

John Ringer 

ChasE Beck 

John Scheirer 

Peter Gross jr 



G White & S Wright Moses Schenck 



Levi Landes 
Owen Troxell 
S Balliet 
Aaron Landis 
A Lautenslager 
D Scheurer 
Wm Steele 
HZeigler 
L Steckel 
Josiah Miller 
Jesse Miller 



Elias Semmel 
Jacob Hensinger 
Wm Schaniz 
Reuben Semmel 
Nathan Neff 
John Romich 
Horace Balliet 
John Clauser 
George Landis 
Jos Steckel jr 
H Fenstermacher 



J 4- D Stetler 
Joseph Gross 
Harrison Barnar 
Thos Heiberger 
Stephen Lintz 
John R Huehner 
Jacob Beisel 
David Bieiler 
Samuel Sieger 
Joseph Biery 
Elias Meyer 
John Schwartz 
John K Clifton 
Daniel Steckel 
A Newhard 
Henry Landes 
Peter Graff jr 
Chas Ritter 
Solomon Boyer 
Israel Garman 
G Roth ^ D Frantz 
Daniel Boyer 
Robt Leinberger 
Chas Troxell 
W S Kohler M D 
Jacob Hartzell 



563 



subscribers' names. 



Jos Oberho'Uzer George Kausman 

Heidelberg tp Reuben Franiz 
John P Butz Dennis Semrael 

Enoch Butz Henry Jacob 

Wm Kilter M Deiber 



Upper Saucon tp 
J Fatzinger Allenl'u 
C Nodnemaker do 
J Nonnemacher do 



Israel Rudy 
vGeorge Rex Esq 
Wm Fenstermacher 
W Beninger 

Joseph Moser 
John Mosser 
Peter Snyder Esq 
Levi Kistler 
D Folweiler 
Saml Hermony 

J Seiberling Esq 
F Hornblaser 
F A Wallace M D 
Henry Stine 

Daniel Clauss 
N Wetherhold 
Jos Kline 

Jacob Adam 
Saml Weider 
Saml Shuler 
Abel S Johnson 
W Gabel Esq 
Henry Orth 
S Kauffman 
L Stabler Esq 
J Rheinhan 

Geo Hohley 



Heidleberg Township 

J Bowman 
Wm Shutz 
Elijah Shutz 
Benj S Levan 

Lynn Township. 
Danl H Creitz 
Rev J Zeileh 
Isaac Levan 
D Stein 
Wm Mosser 
A Long Esq 

Weisenburg. 

David Barnar 
Jacob Freibly 
Benj G Helt 
J H Helfrich Esq 
Low Hill Township. 
E Long 

Owen Hunsicker 
Gideon Holben . 
Upper Milford Township: 



Conrad Raeder jr 
Nathan German 
Peter Miller jr 



D W Kistler 
Joel Kistler 
Jas Seiberling 
A B Friderici 



J F Helfrich 
Jesse Grim 
A Stetler 



F Weida 



M H Albright 
E Roberts 
D Eberhard sr 
Levi Gerherd 
Abm Meyer 
S L Holder 
A Krauss 
S Raeder 
Amos Antrim 
S. White Township. 
Jos Miller A Frankenfield 



Peter Schifford 
Daniel Erdman 
A B Hillogass 
E Engleman 
Chas Foster Esq 
Reuben Stabler 
E Lynn 
Stichter ^ Walter 



lR3frV27 



